Book Review: Fairest

Fairest (TLC #3.5) written by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: January 27th, 2015

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Format of Novel: Nook

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (From good reads): In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

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.

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(Warning, minor spoilers in this review)

Okay, so I guess I did spoil myself in some way for this wonderful series, but you know what, I don't care. I wanted to learn about Queen Levana's past, and holy crow I was not disappointed when it came to her character and story. Upon reading this book, I really started to feel horrible for Levana and the people around her like little Winter. With the treatment she kept receiving from her sister and others when it came to her looks/attitude, its no wonder she grew up to be the way she is portrayed in the series. She grew up emotionally alone,cold-hearted, very shallow, but still attempted to be 'human' enough to embrace love for her new family and her niece once her sister died from the disease that is constantly mentioned in the main series. She was almost like a tragic hero with the way she was able to keep her word in advancing her country's overall growth and try to maintain a sense of humanity in her to keep her happiness around.

The other characters were a nice touch as well. Each of them had their own individuality that shined within the content, and they didn't become little shadows within the story like you normally see happening with minor characters in books. I sort of enjoyed seeing Levana's sister in action and understanding that she wasn't meant to be a ruler. However, I feel that she began to grow slowly once she gave birth to Cinder and she wasn't given a full chance to have a internal battle with her younger sister for the crown. It would've brought out more action and bitterness to get Levana to rampage on her quest for power. It was interesting to see the development of Levana's psychological mindset going downhill once she was able to achieve her goals, and I applauded a little when she did 'win' her inner peace.

However, I felt that once she 'snapped' per say, things were ehh at the end. I mean yeah, she ended up getting everything she desired, but at what true cost? More jealously and fear over her niece and step-daughter's deceased mother's internal beauty? More angst over the fact her husband couldn't love her like she really wanted? I don't know. I just felt that I couldn't really feel the dramatic impulses Levana had while enduring the journey of ruler because I already knew that she was going to be a crazy ruler. And with Meyer's writing style, it felt more like she wasn't allowing us to visualize Levana's downfall, just the major events that were occurring around her; while saving the world of the Lunars for the final book.

All in all though, I did like this book along with the other books I've read from Marissa Meyer. The concept was really strong, the other characters were fresh and stuck to the 'fairy tale' aspect to their roles, and Levana's character is more relatable rather than a giant bitch with a power to hide within her shallow beauty. The writing was well done minus the fact I did lose focus on the visuals of some events. I am going to continue this series by reading the shorts and Cress so I can caught up in time to read the last installment of the Lunar Chronicles with everyone.

Tell me your thoughts of Fairest and Marissa Meyer's other books in general down in the comments below and I'll see you guys tomorrow with another post. Happy Howling!

Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2): Written by Marissa Meyer
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Format of Novel: Paperback
Summary (from goodreads): ~Second book to the series~ Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner
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~Warning; there are some spoilers if you haven't read the first book yet~

As promised, this is the review for the second book of the Lunar Chronicles. Upon reading this, I got into more than the first book for a couple of reasons. One-- I love the red riding hood fairy tale and two, I loved Scarlet and Wolf. Both of these characters shined and they truly took everything to the next level to the series in my eyes. Now before I give my intake on how much I enjoyed these two, allow me to go about the other parts of the story.

In the exciting sequel to the Lunar Chronicles, the story takes place right after Cinder is arrested for her crimes in the palace and in a brand new location (fictional Paris/France). By doing this, readers were allow to experience the continuation of older characters with their struggles and see the beginning parts of how the newer characters are forced into Cinder's now longer quest to defeat the Lunar queen. Unlike the previous story, I thought that in terms of pacing, Scarlet was faster in some areas because of the increased action with Wolf and Scarlet as they go to rescue Scarlet's grandmother. And because of it, it made me enjoy the concept of the two newest characters as a whole along with Captain Throne and how they are now a part of the action. This book in general was a enjoyable read and it makes me really want to go buy Cress right now! Any who, speaking of the new characters, let's talk about them.

Since the story was based on the concept of the Little Red Riding Hood, Marissa Meyer focused on the developments of Scarlet (red riding hood) and Wolf (the big bad wolf) as key characters for the series. I truly loved these two as characters because of how much different they yet she kept their roles as those specific characters in check. I loved Scarlet for being spunky yet gentle and passionate about everything in life. She made me want to hug her and connect with her so she wasn't so alone in her quest since you know... (For those who read this will get what I mean here). Yet she also made me feel like I should run away from her since I don't want her shooting me with that gun xD. As for Wolf, man he is one handsome cutie pie. He's strong, angry, passionate, yet so shy and unsure about everything. I loved him more than Prince Kai and Throne. Wolf in my eyes is exactly want Cinder and her rag-team of awesomeness needs to get the ball rolling so I was in awe to see him becoming a key member of the group.

In general, this story was an excellent installment for the Lunar Chronicles. It will keep you wanting more, the character are very memorable, and writing is beautiful. If you haven't picked up the first two books of this series, please do so if you are looking for new stories to read. Happy Howling!

Book Review: Cinder

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1): Written by Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Fewiel and Friends
Format of Novel: Hardcover
Summary (From Goodreads): ~Book one to a four book series~ Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

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Before I read Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, I never knew there was another modern 're-telling' of the epic fairy tale Cinderella, until I read this book. At first I wasn't too keen about the sci-fi concept towards this novel, however once I did a little research and read the book after it was release, I fell in love with the story. The story is about a young teenage mechanic named Cinder and her quest to figure out the mysterious lunar queen after encountering the young and very handsome Prince Kai. In her world, you get to experience it in different sectors, but in this first book, the story focuses on New Beijing and the current plague that is hurting the majority of the population. The setting in the story was told a very interesting way. In my head, it felt like i was dealing with a sci-fi world with all of the mentioning of the futuristic technology, but when I read this, I quickly fell in love with the narrative and the characters. Those couple of things made the story more interesting and entertaining.

Out of the characters so far in the series, I have to say that Cinder is really one of the main favorites in my heart. I loved how she is a outsider to many people, yet she is willingly to do anything to fulfill her younger sister's dying wish and figure out the meaning behind the Lunars. She shows the qualities of a female protagonist with intelligence, bravery, girly awkwardness, but she is also sensitive, emotional and so forth. 

One of the only things I didn't like about her was the way she let people abuse her verbally. I mean, yes I do understand the idea that she has to muster the hidden courage and get that push out of her, but I think by the time she does take action where the climax in the story takes place-- she is already a weaker character in my eyes and things are deadpan towards the end. However, its also makes sense since we do get to Cinder becoming a even more stronger character as the series progresses. Sometimes I just don't enjoy the concept of the first book to a series being at odds with the climax and falling action, but in the end I had to remember that this story is based on a different idea of Cinderella so your gonna see the missing shoe, the epic escape and everything else that is related to the story.

Over all, I enjoyed Meyer's debut and I just read the second book, Scarlet. I recommend this series for those that really enjoy these particular modern fairy tales. Marissa Meyer is a powerful, energetic, and talented writer. You will learn how to feel inspire with her amazing world building and crave more as each page is turned.

Stay tune for tomorrow for my review on Scarlet! Happy Howling my fellow wolves.