Early review: Cress (Lunar Chronicles, #3) by Marissa Meyer

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.

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Read Chapters 1-5 for free

Source: Borrowed from Lena Beana – thank you!!

Release date: February 4th, 2013

Review:
I always have very mixed feelings when I finish a book in this series. On one hand it’s wildly inventive. Meyer has mad skills when it comes to weaving elements of beloved fairy tales, and turning them on their head in her futuristic, sci-fi retellings. But on the other hand juggling this mash-up, while adding new couples for each book, always leaves me feeling short changed somehow.

All of the gang is present in Cress which I love. With each addition the plot thickens and we don’t just get cameos of previous characters but a continuation of their story, particularly with Cinder and Kai. Again, I’m amazed at how easily Meyer’s is able to bring in new characters while blending them seamlessly into the ongoing story.

I adore the wisecracking Captain Thorne and was shocked how much I liked the genuinely kooky Cress. She’s been flying around in space alone for a very long time and let’s just say she’s developed a bit of a fantasy life regarding Thorne and isn’t all there at times lol but she’s sweet and brave.

Thorne and Cress as a couple was a bit of a let down. Don’t get me wrong…I liked them together but it felt more like an older brother/younger sister relationship than a romance.

For me – there is just too much going on in these books at times. Thorne and Cress aren’t really the stars of their own book so I wasn’t really feeling them as a couple even though I love them both. Scarlet and Wolf are back and something pretty big happens but then is tossed to the side as Cinder and Kai start taking center stage again.

I’m still not sold on Kai. I can’t for the life of me understand Cinder’s devotion to this dude when she’s surrounded by guys who are much more deserving of her love and loyalty. Kai’s making progress though and I hope I can be won over by the end of the series.

Now Jacin (a Lunar guard) and Winter (Queen Levana’s daughter) …THAT’S an interesting combo and has me drooling for Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4) – this time a re-telling of Snow White.

Final thoughts: This series is always a mixed bag for me. Just for plot development and finally moving things forward, Cress delivered. Cress – the character – is my favorite of the heroines. She’s off-beat and quirky and I found her endearing. But Scarlett and Wolf and their book are still my favorite of the series.

I just wished that Thorne and Cress weren’t outshined by everything else going on. The romance and time spent with them was a bit of a letdown and this series is always walking that line of too many POV’s and being stretched too thin.