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| Narrated by Rebecca Soler |
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 higher 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.
“It always came back to love. More than freedom, more than acceptance—love. True love, like they sang about in the second era. The kind that filled up a person's soul. The kind that lent itself to dramatic gestures and sacrifices. The kind that was irresistible and all-encompassing.”
The audiobook for Cress is almost twice as long as the others, but I'm not complaining! I've enjoyed everyone's adventures and really liked the newest character, Cress. She's crazy smart, tech-savvy, and can hack into anything, spy on anyone, and daydream like no other. Her opera singing, line-dancing, and unfamiliarity with the outside world made her an endearing character that I instantly wanted to protect. She's been through a lot, but somehow comes across as sweetly naïve and innocent.
Initially, I didn't think I would like Thorne. He's arrogant and rarely says the right thing. He's like an attractive pirate... in love with his ship, in love with himself, thinks everyone else should immediately be charmed by him, and he's always looking for booty. However, my opinions about him changed drastically while reading this book. We learn more about his history and see what he's willing to do for his friends. Thorne also doesn't think like everyone else, so he's able to bring a unique perspective to the table. His words may come across as cocky, but I believe he speaks from the heart.
Queen Levana needs to die... or be stripped of her powers and thrown into a jail cell. Personally, I hope someone destroys her. She's unbelievably cruel, and it makes me angry to think about all the pain she's caused. The lives of others mean nothing, and she's willing to maim or kill anyone that disagrees with her or gets in the way.
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! Marissa Meyer is an incredible storyteller and I look forward to reading anything else she writes. I believe Winter is next in this series, but I don't know how I feel about her just yet. She's only in Cress briefly, but a lot was said with very little.
Let's get this revolution started!
When you described Thorne, I instantly thought of the cocky and arrogant Han Solo. LOL In love with his ship, thinks he's so charming, always looking to profit... totally Han Solo. Ha! Reading your review totally makes me want to get on the ball and finally start this series! Maybe I should give up on reading it and get the audio versions instead. Great review, Lindsi!
ReplyDeleteTanya @ Girl Plus Books
Rebecca Soler is the narrator (one of my favorites), and she does an incredible job with the different voices all on her own. Yes! Thorne is very similar to Han Solo! Why didn't I think of that?? He's a good guy that just really loves himself and his ship.
DeleteI think you'd really enjoy this series, Tanya! I hope you're able to start it soon.
I'm so glad you loved Cress! I really enjoyed this one too, and I still need to read Winter, but that's something I hope to finally dive into ASAP. I'm very curious to see how it all wraps up!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I'm trying to finish Renegades before starting Winter! I'd borrowed it from the library, started it, and then it expired. I went back on a wait list and only recently was able to check it out again. It's so long! 17-18 hours. Is Winter the last book? I thought there were something else... is there also a companion novel?
DeleteHaven't heard of this series yet but ohh, sounds exciting. Hope you enjoy the next book as well Lindsi :)
ReplyDeletexx
Vanessa
Blushing Geek
You haven't heard of The Lunar Chronicles?? Ahh! It's so good, Vanessa! There loosely based retellings... Cinder (Cinderella) is a mechanic and has an awful stepmother and two stepsisters, Scarlet (Red Riding Hood) wears a red hood and meets a boy named Wolf, Cress (Rapunzel) is locked away on a satellite and her hair is incredibly long, and Winter (Snow White, I think) was surrounded by animals when I met her in this book. It's a fantastic series!
DeleteI loved the first book, I don't know why I never continued the series. Maybe someday right? Wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteI know! There are so many books to read! I was late to the game with this series, but my library has all the audiobooks, which makes things a little easier. Also, starting this series so late means I don't have to wait a year or so between books. I can just keep going at my own pace! I'm going to finish Renegades and maybe start a romance before getting to Winter.
DeleteCurious to see what you think of Winter because that's the one I have yet to read. It was sooooo long and I had a lot going on when it came out.
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland Reviews
I feel like they get longer because someone new is added every book! Meyer has to address the new person, weave them into her current story, and also give us updates on everyone else. Is Winter longer than Cress? I haven't checked!
DeleteI’m glad you’re enjoying them. I love this series. I’m curious what the audiobooks are like.
ReplyDeleteHave you read all of them? What did you think of the ending? Satisfactory after everything else that's happened? I always worry about the final book in a series and how it will end. I feel like it needs to live up to the books that came before it, you know? The audiobooks are fantastic!
DeleteI only tried book 1 but I need to continue one day
ReplyDeleteHow did you feel about Cinder? Did you enjoy it?
DeleteIt's been awhile, I think this is the one I haven't read yet! I need to get back to this series :D
ReplyDeleteYes! It's sooo good! I cannot wait to see how everything ends.
DeleteI need to finish this series. I've only read the first book and half of the second, but I enjoyed what I read. I don't know why I haven't finished it yet. Thanks for sharing this review.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that I do that when a series is incomplete. It's like my brain knows that it'll have to wait a year before I can continue the story, so I just stop reading it. I love starting a series once all of the books are released, because then I can read them on my own time.
DeleteI haven't read this author but I do like stories like this one. I have been hearing good things about this one.
ReplyDeleteThese books are loosely based on fairy tales, but not in any way you're expecting. There are so many surprises and twists... love it!
DeleteYES YES YES!!!! I've been waiting to read your review of this book! I thought the same exact thing about Thorne when I was reading, but then I eventually decided that ThornexCress is my favorite couple in The Lunar Chronicles. Winter will be an interesting read. It is a book that wraps everything up! I think you'll enjoy it because I sure did xD
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed Winter and that it wraps everything up! I hate it when the final book in a series still leaves you with a lot of questions. I was hesitant about Thorne and Cress at first. He's a scoundrel and she's so innocent... but I do love how his is around her, even if he has make a mistake or two. She's also infatuated with him a little too much. She doesn't know anything about him, not really. If they take it SUPER slow... maybe. I adore Wolf and Scarlet together!
DeleteYeah Cress is a baby that everyone just wants to protect <3 Poor girl has never seen a guy in a reeaaallllyyyyy long time. The first guy she meets is a mess and she gets stuck with him for days xD
DeleteShe's supposed to be 15? 16? I can't remember! Thorne isn't much older, right? I thought he and cinder were in their late teens. I think Cress just appears young because of how isolated she's been.
DeleteAccording to the wiki, Cress is 16 and Thorne is 20. I think she's the youngest in the crew along with Cinder. I think Cress is the shortest though xD making her seem even more young!
DeleteI LOVED this series and listened too. I loved Thorne even though he was cocky. The books were so good and Winter was great! Hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI'm really, really enjoying it! The characters are GREAT, and the audiobook is phenomenal. Thorne is really growing on me, so I hope he doesn't disappoint in the next book. Happy to hear Winter is good, too! <3
DeleteI really enjoyed this series! My only issue with this book, and this is purely personal, I had a picture of Cress in my head as a young girl, so the romance with Thorne felt off to me.
ReplyDeleteI can see that. She's been isolated for so long, it's hard to picture her being on the same level as Thorne (someone who has been through quite a lot). She's inexperienced when it comes to interacting with people, so I'm not sure how a relationship would work. She doesn't know enough about life to have already set her sights on one person. She needs to figure out who she is on her own in this new world before she starts depending on someone else too much.
DeleteHowever, I do love that Thorne tells her as much. He lets her know that he isn't everything she thinks he is. He doesn't fancy himself a hero, and thinks that she deserves someone better. He's also fiercely protective of her, even at a great risk to himself. I think their situations may have escalated their feelings, but not in a bad way. They depend on each other, and they've been through a lot together. Trauma can form unbreakable bonds. I think their relationship will grow on me as the series progresses.
I think Cress is my favorite of the first three books. I need to read the rest of the series!!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
You can pick a favorite? I wouldn't know how, haha. There were things I loved about each book, and I feel like they continue to build off one another. Each new person is seamlessly incorporated into the overall story. I've enjoyed watching each of their journeys and cannot wait to see how everything comes together!
DeleteI loved this series and I think Cress is my favorite book (and maybe even character). Get what you mean about Thorne, but I'm happy you grew to love him in this book :) Hope you'll love Winter!
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited about reading Winter and seeing how everything ends! Do we see more Cress and Thorne in the next book? I'm sure it will focus a lot on Winter and Scarlet, but you never know! I could be completely wrong, haha.
DeleteI'm just looking at my copy of Winter now... if the audiobook for Cress was long, Winter is going to be giant. I hope you enjoy reading/listening to it!
ReplyDeleteGiant? Like... how much larger than Cress is it?? It's going to take me forever to get through the audiobook, lol. I do love the narrator, though... I wonder how they feel when they read through books that are this long? I believe my voice would break.
DeleteUm... 300 pages longer? They actually switched over to a thinner paper for Winter so if you look at the book on the shelf it doesn't look THAT much bigger than Cress but... yeah. 300 pages longer than Cress which is several hours difference in audio, I believe? Does the audiobook system you use let you listen at slightly increased speeds? That might help if you're looking for a way to speed up the listening experience. (Though that might be your thing. I tend to listen to audiobooks at 1.5 times the intended speed, depending on the narrator but I know people who prefer regular speed. And one who listens to them at double speed always. So your mileage with that one may vary.)
Delete300 pages longer?! That's insane! Winter could totally be two books! I guess that's a good thing if I want a lot of information and a good conclusion, but woah. It should be several more hours on audio, but I don't mind. I also listen to them at a normal speed! I've tried increasing the speed, but then I feel like they sound rushed and being forced to speak too quickly. It's harder for me to follow when I do that, too. My ears and brain need more time to convert the sound into words, haha.
DeleteI feel like maybe I just got used to listening to audio weirdly fast? Because now when I attempt to listen at normal speed to a lot of narrators, it feels slow.There are exceptions though, so I think it depends on the narrator and also what you get accustomed to... (and also if you're doing other things while listening).
DeleteAnyway. I hope that you're able to experience Winter (either audio or just print) soon!
My favorite is Scarlett but I liked this one. I still need to read Winter.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Fairest yet? It won't make you like Levana anymore (I don't think) but it's interesting to see what made her this way.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I haven't read Fairest, but I want to! I've been curious about Levana from the beginning and what happened to her in the past. I know she still wears her wedding band, even though she glamors it away. She also has a stepdaughter that's still alive for some reason... I seriously doubt anything would make me like Levana, but I still want to read her story. I think Scarlet might be my favorite, too... but I like the new relationship between Cress and Thorne. Cress is also a skilled hacker and I think that's awesome!
DeleteI'm so glad to see you're enjoying this series. It's one of my favorites and yeah I wasn't sure if I would like Thorne or not but he ended up being one of my favorite characters from the series. Can't wait to see what you think of Winter!
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't wait to read it! I love how he is around Cress. He's always aware of where she is in the room, and he's quick to put himself between her and danger. He didn't come across that way when Cinder met him and they escaped together, but I'm happy to see he isn't the jerk I thought he was going to be.
DeleteAn attractive pirate, what's wrong with that? ;-) I love those types of characters who you think you're gonna hate at first, but then they're so well-written that you end up liking them!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with an attractive pirate, haha! He just came across a certain way when he was first introduced, but now I've been inside his head a little bit and feel like I know a little more about him. He has good intentions that don't always come across the right way, and he's sassy!
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