Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)
By: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: February 4th 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
A copy was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, thank you!!
Rating:
Cress is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles so there will be possible spoilers for the first two books. If you’ve not read this series check out my review of Cinder.
Summary (via Goodreads):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.
My Thoughts:
This review will be shorter and less eloquent due to my intense love of this series and inability to form coherent and concise thoughts in regards to it. To me, each book Meyer publishes continue to improve upon the last. I felt that Cress continued in this tradition with the addition of wonderful, unique characters and continuation of the development of the past.
Meyer excels at writing group dynamics and is able to give each individual an unique voice that plays off the other characters. I find this to be the aspect of her writing and books I am impressed with the most. For one person to be capable of creating such brilliant banter is truly remarkable.
As you probably know Cress is a retelling of the classic Rapunzel. I absolutely adored that our Rapunzel, named Cress, was not stuck in a tower without doors but an orbiting satellite. I felt that Meyer was able to give her a true sense of naiveté without making her dumb (for lack of a better word). She is a damsel in distress but she is so very much more and is capable of admirable fetes, such as her computer skills. I adored her fangirling over Thorne and her awkward interactions with the rest of the crew. Because of her self doubt, awkwardness and sweet nature she quickly cemented herself as my favorite of the series.
The story’s pacing continues to be fast and Meyer’s writing is detailed and absorbing. Her action scenes are beautifully orchestrated as well as her ability to create realistic characters that are impossible not to relate to as well as empathize with.
Final Thoughts:
I love Marissa Meyer’s story telling and ability to weave elements of classic fairy tales with science fiction. Each book in the series builds beautifully and seamlessly on its predecessor. I know that Winter, the last in the series, will be the strongest yet and I am as heartbroken as I am excited that only one book remains.
Extras:
Review of Cinder
Review of Scarlet
Interview with Marissa Meyer
It is always the hardest to write reviews for books that you love that are coherent and not just an amalgamation of squeals and tirades about how much you loved it. Even worse is trying to keep your enthusiam down for all the plot points or dialogue you’d love to discuss but that might spoil the book for other people.
That said you’ve managed to keep the review coherent, spoiler free and have made me even more excited than I was before!! Is it Feb 4th yet??
Thank you Pili! I struggled writing this one for sure. I find the 5 star reviews the hardest to write. I can’t wait until you read it because I want to hear your feels and flails 🙂
I have been waiting for Cress to come out for like ever!! Glad to see all the ARC reviews coming out now and even more glad that Cress is a book that is worth waiting for 🙂 Can’t wait to read it! Nice review Kristen 🙂
Cress is very much worth the wait! Thank you Angel 🙂
I’ve been putting this one off because I’m just so danged excited for it, if that makes any sense. I’m so glad to hear everyone say that it’s the best yet. I agree that there was a marked improvement from Cinder to Scarlet, and though I didn’t think anything really NEEDED to be improved in Scarlet (except maybe more Thorne!), I’m glad to hear that it just gets better. 🙂 And Cress is now your favorite heroine in the series? I must read this NOW!
I completely understand holding off on one because of the excitement. I did that with Into the Still Blue. I’ll be very curious to hear your thoughts on it…you should read it very soon 🙂
I can’t wait for this book! Kinda jealous you got one early lol
Great review you just made me want to read it ever more now!!!
Michelle
Not much longer until it will be available! I can’t wait to see that cover in person…so beautiful.
Loved the retelling aspects of this one and I can’t wait for the last book — it’s going to be amazing!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
As do I…Meyer is so good at putting such an original spin on the classic fairy tales. Love her writing so very much. Winter is going to be wonderful…I know it. I loved that small glimpse we had of her character. Seriously can’t wait.
I really enjoyed this. I think my favorite part was the dynamic between Cress and Thorne.
Oh, I loved their dynamic and dialog 🙂
Hehe!! I know when writing a review about books that leave such an impression makes it hard and.. gosh how much I LOVE this series just like you. I’ve been holding off reading it because I simply want to devour it, but then I know it’s already over and we have to wait for Winter.
This series is epic:))
It really is epic….just perfection to me. Ah, I can’t wait to read your review when you read it!
OMG I can’t wait to meet Cress! She sounds like a flawed, but lovable character.
Brilliant review, hun! <33
I can’t wait until you meet Cress! I want to hear about all your feels about this book 🙂
I can see how much you love the series Kristen! Your review gives off the “I love the series” vibe ! :D<3
haha, yes, I’d say I love this series very much. You do as well? I went into reading Cinder not thinking it would be my cup of tea–and boy was I wrong. So much love 🙂
Fantastic review, Kristen! You described this book, and why Meyer is so damn good at what she does, very well. The whole time I was reading it, I just kept thinking “SHE IS SO GOOD AT THIS!”
Yay! I’m glad I was able to convey how I feel about the series and her writing 🙂 I didn’t know if I was going to be able to accomplish it. I’m still working on my Into the Still Blue review having the same difficulty.
<3 So happy that you loved it so much as well. I just thought it was perfect. <3 So, so good. Cress is adorable 😀 Cannot wait for the last book 😀
Oh Carina…that last book is going to be amazing…I just feel it. I loved how we were introduced a bit to Winter in Cress. Oh Marissa Meyer how I love you 🙂
I feel like I should just save this comment to copy and paste on your reviews: “I haven’t read this yet, blah blah blah.” 🙂 In this case, I haven’t even read the first two books! But one of my goals this year is to get this series read. I already own the first two, and I’m first in the library queue for Cress, so that makes things easier. I’m glad to see this is 5 stars, and I look forward to coming back to actually read your review once I get caught up!
You need to boost this one up on the list–love it SO much 🙂 I can’t wait to hear all your thoughts on them all.
GAH, I really need to read this series, don’t I? I think I have a copy of Cinder somewhere. It seems everyone loves this series, and that it gets progressively better with each book, so that’s exciting. Looking forward to finally getting around to reading Cinder. May 2014 be the year of Cinder for me!
You must, must, must read Cinder! I had no idea that you’d not read it yet…let me know if you can’t find a copy and I’ll loan you mine…you must read ASAP!
I love Rapunzel so I’m looking forward to this one! I can’t believe I haven’t started the series yet! The first two books are sitting on my shelf waiting for me though!
You must read the first two now–guessing you already know that though. Eager to read your reviews once you start the series.
YES. This is just so brilliant. The series just gets better and better as it goes on (which I didn’t even think was possible)! I love that they all build on each other so well!
Me too! I can’t believe how Meyer is able to up herself. I am so excited for Winter but so sad too since it’ll be the last. I wonder what Meyer is working on next.