The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

 I have to start out by saying this book series has become one of my favorite of all times. It’s cheesy, and predictable but a lot of fun and a twist on your fairy tale stories. Most of the reviews are good and loved it but a few that I read that said the books were dumb and disappointing not convincing enough but keep in mind reading this book is about fun and being entertained not to give you a Pulitzer Prize deep literature book. It was written for teens so not much deep thinking is involved. So read the series for a good entertaining time.

Cinder

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl....

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

The first book takes on the story of Cinderella. In this case Cinder is a cyborg, basically an amputee with computerized mechanical parts. Because of this she is an outcast with little rights and is under the supervision of an owner.

Cinder is very talented at fixing items and works running the garage for the family she is living with. She is always dirty covered in dirt and grease smudges. This is how she meets prince Kai, when he brings in an android for her to fix.

The book is very enjoyable to read, being predictable in following the story of Cinderella you can pretty much guess everything that will happen. Although the author dose a good job of putting twist and unexpected things into the book keeping you guessing how certain parts will play out. I like that it doesn't really have it’s happily ever after either instead it opens it up for more books.

I’m going to keep this review short so that I don’t put any spoilers into it. All I can say is that I loved this book it will be one I read more than once and I recommend this one over many of the other books I have read. 

Scarlet

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the best-selling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison - even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.

When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

            So another fun book in the series. This story takes on the fairy tale of red riding hood and the big bad wolf. This book made me laugh at the more of the cheesiness of the story then Cinder but still equally good and ties nicely into the first book leaves room for more books.

             You meet Scarlet and Wolf in this book, and learn more about the character Captain Thorne. Scarlet is someone with a, don’t mess with me attitude. People in her town try to give her a lot of crap but she refuses to take it and always has a feisty attitude fighting back. She is searching for her grandmother who disappeared when she runs into Wolf. He agrees to help her out. Along the way they have to learn to trust each other if they want to survive and find her grandmother with answers to many questions.

            Captain Throne’s character made me laugh, he is a fun character that bring a comic relief. Cinder escapes prison with his help and together they escape into Thorne’s ship and start making plans of what to do next.  

            The book goes back and for between Scarlet’s story, Cinder’s and Prince Kai’s and eventually Scarlet and Cinder’s path crosses and they need each other’s help.

            Like the first book this is another fun story and adds to the buildup of what is going to happen in the end. More trouble arises for Kai as he is searching for Cinder.

It doesn't leave on a bad cliff hanger but enough that you want to jump into the next book right away.  Another must read in my opinion.

Cress

In this third book in the 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 net screens 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.

            This book brings in Cress, who is taking on the story of Rapunzel. She has been forced to live in a satellite for many years running the technology side for the Lunars. Since she has had many years living alone she has had a lot of time researching Cinder and Captain Thorne. She is a romantic dreamer always with a dream in her head about being rescued Thorne, who she feels like she knows through her research of him. When she makes contact to Cinder and they agree to come and save her getting her all excited to finally meet Thorne.

            The book continues with all the characters meeting up and helping each other out all trying to find the same outcome of saving earth from Queen Levana. It’s fun to read and see the characters develop more and find out more of the twist of the stories. I thought that this book was the finale in the series and was disappointed to learn that it was not and that the next book won’t even be out until later this year. It did answer a lot of the questions I had from the other books but there is much more that will happen that I’m hoping the next book will get too. I’m also hoping that the book will stay true to other books keeping it fun and fast paced to read.

            If you still haven’t started the series yet I would wait for the next book to get out so you can read the all at once. If you don’t want to wait at least have the first three to read since the third book isn't as bad a cliff hanger as the first two.