Book Review #2 "The Lunar Chronicles" by Marissa Meyer

Hi Everyone

     I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and didn't get too full and tired to stop you from turning the pages of the book you are reading. I just finished reading "Winter" from the "Lunar Chronicles" by Marissa Meyer. The "Lunar Chronicles" consists of "Cinder," "Scarlet," "Cress," Fairest," "Winter" and coming on February 2, 2016 her finale installment consisting of short stories "Stars Above." Overall I would rate the series 3.75 stars out of 5.
     What does this series consist of? Well, it is a combination of parts of some of your favorite fairy tales. This book takes you back in time. It brings on the comforting feeling of nostalgia. It is a combination of your favorite parts of fairy tales. It retells them in a new story, than the ones you are familiar with. But yet that is not all, Marissa Meyer adds a science fiction element to the series. This was a risk taken by the author. Because at first glance you may be skeptical, wondering how science fiction and fairy tales fit together. But put your worries aside, this actually worked out well, in the way that it expanded the storyline. It allowed the storyline to venture in different directions and took you to different places. This series, as I just wrote puts all of your favorite characters, from the fairy tales you know, and combines them into one story. Imagine if Cinderella became friends with Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel and other notable characters. There is your Prince Charming, wolves, robots, Captain Hook, aliens and of course the evil queen. It goes from huge castles, to farms and woods, to spaceships, and to another planet. Put this all together and what do you get, well "The Lunar Chronicles," of course.
     For the most part this series was organized very well. Each book in a way focused on a different character and that character's story. Each book was part of the whole. The story flowed very seamlessly from one book to the next. Except for "Winter." "Winter" attempted to follow this seamless transition but failed. The problem with "Winter" while trying to conclude the whole series, had too much going on. It was like the characters and plots were colliding with each other instead of being able to pass through. I think this book in particular took on more than it could chew. Being that all the books up until now were good, I was a little disappointed when it came to "Winter"
     This series took on a lot of central plots and themes. It brought forth the issue body shaming. That we all have different bodies, and we all need to accept and have confidence in the way we are shaped. It is not what is on the outside that counts but what is inside. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That all beings are equal and should be treated the same regardless of what they look like. And beauty can be a curse. Things aren't what they seem to be. We all put on our own glamours in trying to present ourselves the way we want to be seen. And as you will see, in one's desire to be beautiful it is not everything. That desire can sometimes present itself as an enemy and bring out the worst. The desire can turn against one and can be one's own demise.
     I did like how the series took on some political and socioeconomic aspects. It brought up again the importance of equality, justice. It talked about oppression. It brought up how the governmental forces have the ability to control and oppress people. How the governmental forces often and can present itself as a facade, a glamour. It publicizes what society wants to see an ideal, utilitarian, fair, just, equal ruling force. It has the capacity to lie and spread lies. It is up to society to see through this facade to face reality and to join forces and confront this facade. Equality was a main fighting force, how one should get rid of the class system, and hand out resources equally and fairly regardless of what that person looks like or how much money that person has.
     But, there is always hope, as you will see, giving up is not an option. Bravery, courage, kindness, respect, friendship, trust are the ingredients to change. And these ingredients will be present throughout the series.
     This was an entertaining series, it kept me reading, it kept my attention all the way through. It was what you expected it to be. And I am glad it was what I expected and not less. In a way though I wanted it to surpass my expectations, I wanted the series to push and keep pushing the boundaries. I know it should be enough that it met my expectations. However, as I kept reading and reading I kept thinking and hoping that it would shatter my expectations and it ended up just being a shy short. Reading this series was a great adventure and I don't regret any of it. And I don't think you will either.
If you are interested in reading this series you can purchase it Here

Keep turning those pages
Jill

P.S. Stay tuned for my next all exclusive review thanks to Netgalley of "Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America's Campuses" by Lawrence C. Ross. Learn about it here first, before it's sell date of February 2, 2016.