Book Review - Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Happy Thursday, everyone! I'm back with yet another book review. This time, it's for a series I can't get enough of: The Lunar Chronicles by the lovely Marissa Meyer. I've reviewed book one, Cinder, and book two, Scarlet, here on the blog already, and I invite you to check them out. Today, we're all about Cress.

This review will go in the Time for Books 2016 review pool. There are over ninety reviews there already, so if you're looking for your next great read... Well, here's the link: Time for Books 2016 Review Team. Check it out for yourself. Those ladies kick butt.

Ready? Let's get to it!

Starting with information about the book.

Title: Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA Fairy tale Adaptations - Sci-Fi
Length (print): 560 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Hardcover $11.22

Blurb:
In this third book in Marissa Meyer's bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped 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 being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

~~~

Where do I start? I, of course, grabbed this book once I finished Scarlet. Wild horses couldn't have kept me from it. I was so intrigued by the first two books in this series, I just had to have the third one (especially when I found out Cress was a hacker). There was no disappointment to be had by this reader. Anyway, now that you know where I got it, let's get to why I loved it!

From a Reader's Perspective:
Cress was likeable from the first moment she was introduced. Because of the circumstances she grew up in, I expected her to be overly naive, cowardly, and awkward. Well, I nailed two of those aspects, but this young lady blew me away with her tenacity. While she had plenty of inner fear, she charged into every situation, ready to do her part to help. I loved seeing the world through eyes that had never seen it before. Growing up on Earth, most people rarely pause to consider the stunning beauty of this planet. I never even realized how much I took the simple things (like mountains and trees) for granted. An eye opener for sure.

My favorite characters were back, and I got some new ones to contemplate. Captain Thorne is starting to show his softer side, as he looks at himself with new, innocent eyes. Scarlet is still the pilot everyone wishes they were, and Iko is her snarky, loyal, lovable self.

Cinder, however, is the one who moves forward most from the previous books. She's starting to find the power inside herself, and she's coming to some realizations that may just lead her band of misfits to the battle of their lives and the overthrow of the Lunars.

World-building and pacing were spot on, and I read this behemoth in just a few sittings. Captivating!

I can't wait to read Winter.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Nothing to write home about. No hiccups in the plot, no grammar flubs, and no syntax slip-ups.

Rating:
+1 Star for making me adore Cress
+1 Star for pacing
+1 Star for showing me the growth in Cinder
+1 Star for opening my eyes to the wonders I've seen every day but didn't recognize
+1 Star for editing

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended for those that love action, adventure, and a good dose of all things fairy tale.

What do you think? Have you read it? Plan to?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo