END OF DAYS by Susan Ee

“‘After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run.’ They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and on Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all. When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: their kind, or each other?”

What is the book about?

Penryn and Raffe escaped the angels after almost not making it out alive and Penryn has managed to find her sister, now getting close to being able to get her family together and find them a safe place to be. Raffe has once again gotten his wings back, but finds himself in the same position as he was when he first met Penryn, trying to find a doctor to put his wings back on him before time runs out. Penryn also needs a doctor for her little sister Paige or else she may starve to death or become a true monster. As they set off in search of a doctor, Penryn learns new things about Raffe’s past and meet creatures that should have just stayed in the past. Meanwhile, things are getting worse with the angels as they fight over who becomes the new Messenger and Raffe needs to get back soon before the title goes to the most undeserving archangel. Things are just getting worse as more apocalyptic creatures appear and it is clear that the end is near and an all-out war is going to begin. It is clear the fight will be between their two species, so Penryn and Raffe will have to choose: their own kind, or each other…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I am not joking when I say that I immediately grabbed this book when I finished the last page of World After and just started to read it without hesitation. I was so intrigued to find out more and I needed to see how the book would end, although I did like how calm the ending was and how the characters got a little moment of peace. I didn’t really think too much on my initial thoughts on the book as mainly I was just desperate to read on and flowed straight into it, however I was sure that I was going to like it (if it ended happily) and that it was going to be an epic read. When I started I was initially worried that I would have a slight delay in getting really into the book as I had had with the other books; however I didn’t get stuck at the beginning. This book was much easier to read from the very start and I jumped right in as the book perfectly flowed from the previous one and it was like I never even left their world. I loved it from the very start and now I am just sad that it had to end.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was probably Penryn again and there was one main scene that made this decision clear to me. Penryn finally had what she had been fighting for throughout the whole trilogy: her family back together on their way to safety. She had wanted that for so long and could have just kept going and kept that perfect moment and been safe for the rest of time because she knew that soon everything would end and she trusted Raffe to do the right thing. However then she was presented with a choice: keep running with her family or save the people of the Resistance. She could have kept going, she should have kept going, but Penryn was a stupid and brave and heroic girl and her choice was clear the moment she was presented with it. She came such a long way from the girl who would let the whole world burn for her sister to the girl who was willing to risk her own life for others. She had lost all hope in humanity, thinking no one was willing to help each other, that it was everyone for themselves, but she was the one who restored that faith for others. She made her decision because she was a hero and because she trusted Raffe and knew that he would never hurt her or anyone else. She was the perfect hero, the one the world needed and she proved it in this moment and all the ones that came after.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I loved so many parts of the book and there are so many scenes I will never forget, however there are a couple that stood out much more to me. It’s really hard to explain without spoiling anything so my wording might be a bit cryptic and confusing if you haven’t read the book, but I’d rather do it like this than spoil the book. My favourite parts occurred when Penryn and Raffe went to try to find some people to help them, some people that Raffe had known in the past and who he thought he could save and that then they could save him and Penryn. The reason I loved this is because they saw what was so obvious between the two of them that both of them (especially Raffe) were trying to ignore and push down because they both knew that it could never be and that it would never last. It was so funny to see how they asked Raffe so many questions about her and when he answered one thing they knew that he meant something else. When he got so pissed at them for showing an interest in his girl (though he had just said she wasn’t his) I nearly died. And then later when it was just the two of them flying around they took the time to pretend that just for a while their romance wasn’t forbidden and that for a while they could just be 2 people who wanted each other. That part was just perfect and I will never forget it. I loved this whole experience and I just wish I coul read it again for the first time.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading End of Days and thought it was the perfect ending for this trilogy, however there were a couple things I wish had been done differently. One thing I really loved about the book was the romance which took a real turn in this book. In both the previous books all I wanted and the one thing I was waiting for was a true romance. The tension between the couple was clear and the teasing and banter was absolutely perfect but I desperately wanted more. I didn’t get any of that in World After and that really annoyed me, however I finally got my wish in this last book. One specific scene near the beginning of the book nearly killed me and then later on there were so many moments were I was just dying from joy. There were also many moments where I was so annoyed and wanted to slap some sense into the characters, however overall the whole romance was enough to destroy me. Another thing I really loved about the book was the plot. After reading the first 2 books I was honestly confused at how all this would end and what could really happen in this book. The main thing in the series was Penryn trying to find her sister and get her family to safety and Raffe trying to get his wings back so he could go back to the angels and now that they both had what they wanted (or were about to get it) I was so unclear on what would happen but what did happen was absolutely perfect. The twists and turn, the new characters and the stuff about the past were things I could never have predicted. The final thing that I loved but also had a few conflicting feelings about was the ending. I loved the ending because of what it meant for Penryn and Raffe and how it showed how far they both came, especially Raffe who gave up what meant most to him in the world for Penryn because he finally realised that the most important thing was her. I got what I wanted after so long and it was absolutely perfect, however I wanted more so badly. The build up to the final scene was absolutely incredible and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting for the ending that I wished for but also dreading it wouldn’t end like I wanted. However, I think that the author could have spent a bit more time on the actual ending scene because it felt a little rushed and anticlimactic. I got the ending that I wanted but I wasn’t willing to accept that the book was finished when I reached the ending and that I would never know anything else about the characters I grew to love. I needed more closure (which I later got by making a board on Pinterest) and I just wish that the book could have been a little longer.  

Which is your favourite book in the Penryn & the End of Days series? (1, 2, or 3)

I enjoyed all three of the books in this series and found that I loved them practically equally, however I would probably say that End of Days (the third and final book) was my favourite one. Although the ending left much to be desired and I didn’t feel like the series was fully complete when I finished, as if there was something missing, I still found that I preferred it to the other 2 books. It had everything I had loved throughout the series, like the ridiculously short chapters that made me feel like I was flying through the book and it was a floppy paperback which I love (if you know, you know). It also had the perfect banter between Penryn and Raffe that I lived for and had seriously missed in World After. However this book also had so much more, things that I hadn’t had in the other books and that I had been wanting for so long. One main thing was the romance which honestly developed so much and made me want to just squeal and hug the book. So many scenes will live in my mind rent free for the rest of my life and this couple will forever be one of my favourites. Another thing was also how many new things popped up in this final book and how it didn’t make it feel at all like it was rushed or everything was being fit into a very small book. The plot felt so much more action packed than the previous books and I just loved it. This whole trilogy has been amazing and I know that I will never not recommend it.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book and this whole trilogy. It was absolutely amazing and it is the perfect read for those who love romance (though it is slow burn) and adventure and lots of shocking and crazy moments.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The epic conclusion to a fantastic fantasy and romance series that will leave you thinking about it for days.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

WORLD AFTER by Susan Ee

“‘The survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what’s left of the modern world.’ When a group of people capture Penryn’s sister Paige, thinking she’s a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. As Penryn searches the streets of San Francisco looking for her, she’s drawn into the heart of the angels’ secret plans, where she learns the horrifying extent to which they a willing to go. Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can’t re-join the angels, but when faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?”

What is the book about?

Penryn managed to find her sister after searching for so long with Raffe, but now she isn’t sure if that was the best idea as her sister isn’t who she was before. Whatever the angels did to her while they had her captive has left her a shell of her former self and many see her as a monster. Penryn feels kind of safe now, in the Resistance headquarters with her family, but she misses Raffe and she knows the feeling of safety won’t last, especially when it is made clear that her family doesn’t really belong there. When a group of Resistance people capture Paige, Penryn’s sister, thinking she is a monster, the situation ends in a massacre and Penryn loses Paige again. Penryn must now once again hit the streets of San Francisco to look for her, but this time with different company. As she tries to find her, she finds herself once again in the middle of the angels and discovers the angels’ secret plans for Earth and how far they are willing to go to see them completed. Meanwhile, Raffe is searching for his wings, his only hope of ever being able to go back home and being accepted by his friends. If he doesn’t get them back he won’t ever be able to re-join the angels, but when he has to choose between his wings and Penryn, which will mean more to him?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Angelfall ended in such an emotional and stressful cliff-hanger that had me reaching for World After instantly, desperate to find out what would happen now that Penryn and Raffe were separated. My initial thoughts on the book were pretty similar to the thoughts I had for the first book, though now that I had already read one of the books I was definitely more confident about my expectations. I was pretty confident that I would enjoy the book and that it would be really good, even though I was prepared to have a rather rough start to the book, like I had had with Angelfall. I knew that once I got through a few chapters I would fully fall in love with the book and there would be no going back. I honestly finished the book in 2 sittings because once I started to read it was like everything started to flow and sitting to read a few chapter would turn into reading half the book. In the beginning I did kind of feel a little weird, however it definitely took less time to get used to the book than with Angelfall and I was soon reaching the end reaching for the final book to complete the series. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think in this book my favourite character was also Penryn because of how brave (though some will see it as stupidity) she is. There is one particular part in this book where it was clear to me that Penryn was one of the bravest and kindest humans I have ever met and it was definitely the part where I knew that she was my favourite. At this part of the book Penryn has the opportunity to run in the opposite direction of the danger and to protect her family in the process, however if she does run she will leave behind many innocent strangers to suffer and probably die at the hands of angels and the creatures they created. Anyone else would have immediately run away and wouldn’t have even considered helping others as most humans I know are all about themselves and aren’t willing to sacrifice their lives for other people, especially strangers. However, Penryn is not one of those people and seeing her risk everything to help a few more people made me admire her so much and definitely made me believe a little that there are good people in the world (even if she is just a fictional character).

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I loved so many parts of the book, however there is no argument over the fact that my favourite part was definitely when Penryn and Raffe were reunited. I spent the whole book just wishing that they would find their way back to each other and at several points they were so close to it that I wanted to just scream so when it finally happened I was just over the moon. It was just such a sweet part of the book, especially the way that Raffe was so conflicted about whether it was really her or not and to see the poor guy struggle with all the feelings that he had in that moment was just so cute (he literally nearly ruined everything for himself because he was frozen in place!). Then I loved how easily they got back to their old relationship and their loving banter and it just made me feel so happy. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I thought that World After was an amazing book and I can’t wait to read the final book. One thing I loved about the book, and have loved about the previous book too, was the short chapters. These chapters were so absolutely perfect and made the book literally fly by. I always find that books with short chapters are so much quicker and easier to read and this book definitely made me feel that way. In like 10 minutes I had already read 5 chapters and it felt amazing to make so much progress with the book and definitely made me more likely to keep reading. Another thing I loved was the ending because of how it was kind of happy but also had a cliff-hanger. I really loved the way that Penryn described how, even if it was just for a moment, in that moment right at the end she felt safe and it just made me so happy to see the characters so calm and happy, even if I knew it wouldn’t last long as the next book would mess that all up. The cliff-hanger part of it was also great as it made me so excited to read the final book and definitely made the flow from this book to the third book much easier. However, although the book was amazing and I really enjoyed it, there were a few things I didn’t like about the book. One thing was the fact that it was written in the first person. I definitely got a bit more used to it especially after reading the whole of Angelfall in the first person, but it still felt so weird and I definitely would have preferred it to be in the third person. Another thing was that for the majority of the book my favourite couple had to be separated. It really annoyed me that I couldn’t have more of the amazing moments with the banter and any of the sweet moments between them when it was clear that they were fighting their feelings for each other. That is something I definitely would have liked to see more of and hope I will see more of in the final book.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

I loved both Angelfall and World After and definitely have high hopes for the final book because of this; however I would probably say that I preferred the first book (Angelfall) to the second book. There wasn’t really many reasons for my decision as both books were very similar with the same short chapters and first person narrative, however there was one very big difference between the 2 books which made my decision for me. The reason I preferred Angelfall was because Penryn and Raffe were together for basically the whole book when, in World After, the couple were together for a very short amount of time at the end. This meant that the second book in the trilogy didn’t have the banter between them that made me squeal and was just so entertaining and also it didn’t have any of the cute scenes where it was clear that they both felt something for each other. That is literally the only reason I would say Angelfall was my favourite as the writing and plot and everything else was so perfect in both books, however it is a big thing that I definitely noticed while reading. Now I just can’t wait to see what happens in End of Days and I hope to see so much more of Penryn and Raffe together.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend reading this book (after Angelfall) and I think it is the perfect read for those (over 15) who enjoy fantasy, dystopian fiction and adventure, with a great sprinkle of romance.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An addictive and perfect sequel full of mystery, romance and adventure.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

ANGELFALL by Susan Ee

“It has been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain. Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When they fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Including making a deal with the enemy.”

What is the book about?

Six weeks ago, with no warning and no idea as to why, angels came down and destroyed the world. Now, only pockets of humanity remain as people struggle to survive. Nothing we were used to rely on works anymore, anything electrical and phones has stopped working, leaving most people helpless with no idea how to survive. Money holds no value and most people have had to turn to inhumane methods in order to protect their families. During the day people live in fear from the street gangs that rule the streets and keep control of everything, robbing the regular people of anything to eat or to help them survive. Once the sun sets a different fear rules – a fear of the supernatural, of the angels of the apocalypse. Penryn is the one in charge of protecting her little family: her mentally unstable mother and her disabled sister. All she wants is to keep them safe, but when she finally decides it’s time for them to leave their apartment and find somewhere safer, everything goes wrong. They encounter some angels who take her helpless little sister and now Penryn will do anything to get her back, including making a deal with the enemy, who may be the only one with the knowledge she needs to find her sister. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I first bought Angelfall and the other books in this trilogy a few years ago and didn’t even know anything about the books at the time. If I’m completely honest I only purchased the books because I needed to get a giant book purchase up to £40 for free delivery and the books were on the ‘similar to books in your basket’ section. I didn’t even read the blurb and just decided it would be interesting to read and then proceeded to completely forget about their existence, as I do with most of my books (I have an extreme addiction!). However, a few months ago my friend was telling me about a few books she was keen to read and she mentioned Angelfall and something clicked in my brain and I remembered owning the series. Then I made the decision to pick up the book and have a look at the blurb and at a few reviews and I became very intrigued and excited to read the books, so I moved them to the top of my to-read list. It seemed like my kind of book as it had a few of the elements I always love. I was so interested to start reading and so confident, especially after my friend said she wanted to try them too. However, at the beginning when I started to read I was a bit disappointed. For some reason I found the book a bit hard to get into at the start, but soon it started to lighten up and my initial thoughts about it were soon confirmed. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think my favourite character was probably Penryn because she was such a realistic human. When she lost her sister and needed to get help from her enemy, she initially was prepared to use rather inhumane methods to get it. She didn’t try to hide what her desperation was turning her into and she made it clear that her sister was her priority and she didn’t care how she got to her. It was so realistic because I know, even though we would want to say that this wouldn’t happen to us, if it had happened to anyone of us we would have been prepared to sacrifice all our morals to get back someone we loved. It was also so clear that most of the time Penryn had no idea what she was doing and was just hoping that things would work out. And obviously she didn’t know what she was doing because she was just a teenager who 6 weeks ago had been going shopping with friends and relied on her phone for everything. Penryn was a very flawed main character, however that’s what made her a great main character and her loyalty to people made her a main character that I definitely admired. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was definitely at the end of the book when it was clear that wat Raffe had said to Penryn earlier wasn’t the slightest bit true. Even though I already was pretty confident that what he had said wasn’t true before it even got to this part, the reassurance was definitely nice and made me much more excited to continue with the story. It was such an emotional and very annoying part because of what Raffe believed in that moment and how I was the only one who knew that it wasn’t true. I just wanted to scream at him but just had to sit there watching as the two characters got separated and watch as Raffe believed they would never see each other again. But I also loved this part because it made it clear that the romance I so wanted to happen was definitely going to happen, even though both characters clearly wanted to deny any feelings they had for each other.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really enjoyed Angelfall and now I can’t wait to read the second book in the trilogy and continue with the adventure. One thing that I really enjoyed about the story was how it was so different and yet so similar to some of the books that I have read and enjoyed. It had the same vibes as the dystopian fiction/fantasy books I have read, where the world is ending and it seems like it is up to a teenager to figure out how to fix everything. However it was also different as Penryn only wanted to save her sister and get back to her family and had no intention of saving the world, even though I’m pretty confident that is how the series is going to end. Another thing I loved about the book was the romance. Although there wasn’t really any romance, it was so clear where it was going between the characters as it was so predictable and I loved it. The enemies to lovers that I know is coming is one of the biggest reasons I am continuing the series and I have high hopes for it so it better meet my expectations. Although I did really enjoy the book, there were a few things that I didn’t love. One thing was that the book was written in the first person. After reading so many books in the third person I think now I’m just so used to it that anything else feels weird. Also I definitely prefer it when the book is written in the third person as I get to watch over all the characters and see more than I would if it were in the first person. However, after a while I got used to it and didn’t hate it any more. The second thing was that it took me a little while to get into the book and I found it hard to read in the beginning. I think that this may have been because of the first person writing but it might have also been because I found it a bit confusing in the beginning as I didn’t really know what was happening or why. Gradually I got into it and I started to get answers to my questions, however in the beginning I found the book a bit disappointing. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend this book and I think it is a great book for lovers of fantasy, romance and adventure. I think it’s best for readers over 15, but I know anyone will enjoy it (if they have the patience to keep with it at the start).

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An action-packed story set in a post-apocalyptic world, with the perfect sprinkling of romance and fantasy.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

STARS ABOVE by Marissa Meyer

 

“‘The enchantment continues...’ The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories – and secrets – that are wondrous, vicious and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realise their destinies?”

What is the book about?

This book is made up of a collection of short stories set in the same world as the Lunar Chronicles. It has some that have been published before and others that are completely new. Most of the stories are prequels to some of the books and give some much needed insight into how some of the characters got to where they were in the main series. How did Cress find herself alone on the satellite? How did Cinder end up in the care of Michelle Benoit, Scarlet's grandmother? What happened after when she was taken by Garan and how did she end up being treated so badly by her step family? How did Carswell Thorne end up a being a criminal mastermind at such a young age? What happened to Wolf and how did he become one of the soldiers of the Queen's army? All these questions will finally be answered in this book, with a further glimpse into the universe of the Lunar Chronicles through an extra story with new characters. Also get a glimpse into the future after the events of Winter and see the characters you love get ready for a much anticipated wedding. A great collection of stories, all of which you will love.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I was definitely keen to read this book and my initial thoughts were that the book was going to be incredible and that I was going to enjoy reading all these stories immensely. I was so confident about Stars Above and was desperate to start reading it. I always love to get more information on the characters and for some reason it's always so much more interesting and enjoyable if it's given in a separate story or as a flashback of sorts so I knew that this short story collection was for me. I started it almost instantly after Winter, desperate to not lose contact with the characters and stories that had been my main focus these last few days. After looking at what we're the contents of the book and which stories I was going to get to read I was even more excited, especially for the final story that would let me see the characters after the events of the final novel. I didn't quite know what to expect of each of the stories, and they were definitely short, but I was not wrong about loving them all and I found it was so easy to get into the stories and find myself in the world that I wasn't quite ready to leave yet. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I honestly don't think I can pick a favourite character in this book as the book was filled with many different short stories that all highlighted a different character. I got to see all the characters that I loved and got to find out so much more about them. This book wasn't like the main books in the series where one character (usually the one whose name was in the title) was highlighted more so I was able to pick a favourite more easily. I also didn't really have enough time with the characters in this book to really get a strong idea about who I loved best. However, one that I did find that I liked more or maybe I sympathised with more was probably Cress. Her story After Sunshine Passes By about how 9 year old Cress ended up on the satellite broke my heart and it made me like her more. This is because I got to see how hopeful and innocent she was and how she still believed that she would one day be accepted on Luna. It showed me just how far she came from that little girl to the strong woman without whom the others would never have been able to defeat Levana. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

As this book was more of a collection of stories I will choose my favourite story rather than favourite part. My favourite short story was definitely Something Old, Something New. One reason that I loved it more than all the other stories was probably because it was the only story that was an epilogue to the books and not a prequel to a particular book or character or a completely new story. I definitely needed more of the character after finishing Winter as I didn't feel like I was quite done with them and with the series. Although all the stories were good this one definitely holds a special part of my heart as it added more love to some characters I was already attached to and it also gave me more closure. I also got to see something that I was definitely hoping would happen and I didn't think I'd get to see. It was a story that made me feel so much love and I honestly felt like I was in tears all the time I was reading it. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Stars Above was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. One reason I really liked it was because it's existence meant that I wasn't fully done with the Lunar Chronicles after Winter and meant that I got to have a few more moments with the characters and the stories that I absolutely loved. I got more closure and I got so much more information that I now know that I couldn't have lived without. I didn't want the series to end and this final book filled with stories about the characters of the main series made it so much easier for me to let go. Another reason I really loved this short story collection was that I not only got so many prequels to the main books and got to see the characters at a much younger age, but I also got to see the characters a couple years after the events of Winter. I loved the prequels because it filled in a few of the gaps and gave me the opportunity to see the actual story instead of just having been told for a second what happened. However I definitely loved the epilogue more because I got the hope that in the end all the characters would have their proper happy endings and that one couple had already gotten it. It let me keep imagining the joyful endings that I wanted for each of the characters and I loved it. This book was the perfect way to finish on the series and although I am still sad that I won't get to see the characters more I am definitely happy with how it all ended. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book. It is the perfect addition for lovers of the Lunar Chronicles series and has so much of the stuff that you will have enjoyed in the main books, like romance and more fairy tale retellings. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A great collection of stories filled with extra information that you will devour and love. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

WINTER by Marissa Meyer

“‘Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?’ Princess Winter is admired for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breath-taking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana. Winter despises her stepmother and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for he childhood friend, the handsome palice guard Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak Levana believes her to be, and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.”

What is the book about?

Princess Winter has no royal blood and can never be queen but her stepmother still believes she is a threat because of how much the people love her. They all admire her for her beauty, kindness and grace despite the scars that Levana inflicted on her to try to hide that the young princess was growing even more beautiful than her. Winter is also believed to be weak and crazy because she is unwilling to use her Lunar powers like everyone else on Luna. She doesn't want to manipulate anyone and people see this as weakness instead of strength. Everyone, including her closest friend Jacin (a royal guard who she wishes would be more than just her friend, even though her stepmother would never allow it), believes she needs protecting and she is helpless and useless, but she is so much stronger than they think. When she finds herself in the presence of the cyborg Cinder and her allies, Winter realises she might even be strong enough to help with the revolution and be able to help finally win the war against Levana. The final battle is coming and, if they win, Cinder, Winter and their friends will finally be free of Levana and will get their happy endings. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I was very excited to read this final book in the Lunar Chronicles series, though I was also sad to finally see it end. I didn't quite know what to expect of this final (very chunky) book but I was quite confident that I would enjoy it and would find it to be just as good as all the previous books in the series. Before I started reading the Lunar Chronicles series I wasn't quite sure what to expect and I didn't realise what an adventure it would be. When I saw that Rach of the books had a title that reflected a new female main character that would be introduced I was initially worried that the books wouldn't really flow into each other and that it would be individual stories, just like most of the fairy tale retellings I've read have been like. However, by the time I got to the end of Cress I was no longer worried and was so happy to find that this series had been so much more interesting and enjoyable than I ever thought it would be. I knew Winter would be great and I was surprised at how quickly I started to love the book, especially as I had found it more difficult to start each book and get back into the flow of things. This last book was amazing and I am so sad to see it all end. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character in this book was definitely Winter, though I loved many other characters in the book and whole series. Winter was a bit of an odd girl and was definitely going mad from not using her Lunar powers for years. However, when she wasn't hallucinating, there were many moments where it was clear why this girl was loved by the whole of Luna. She was kind and sweet and also incredibly brave and smart. The fact that she chose not to use her powers was one of the clear pieces of evidence for this, as she chose to sacrifice her own mind, her own life, so that she would never hurt or manipulate anyone again. The story of why she stopped using her power was so heartbreaking, but it was clear that she was happy with her decision and she would never manipulate anyone for her own gain, even if she lost her mind in her process. Secondly, when she was faced with a chance to overthrow her stepmother and put a better queen on the throne, she was ready and she didn't back down. She might have been crazy to some and her decisions may have seemed absurd, but she knew what she was doing. The hope she had for her people and the belief she possessed that everyone could be good, even the monsters Levana created made me love her even more. She was brave and crazy, but her strange quirks just made me love her more. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

The whole of Winter was so good and I loved reading every second of it, however I definitely have a favourite part and it's definitely the very end after the final confrontation in the book. I don't want to say much about it as I don't want to spoil anything but the main reason I loved it was because of how I felt reading it. It was perfect and beautiful and I found that everything fell into place so well and everything that I wanted came true. It could have gone so wrong but it didn't. It honestly made me feel so happy and just the feeling I got when reading it was enough to make me love it. There were loads of other moments in the book where I felt the same joy, like when characters were reunited after ages apart, however this was one of the biggest. I loved it and I honestly am so glad it didn't end as disastrously as it could have done becaus I don't think I could have taken it. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and loved finally reaching the end of this amazing series, though I am sad to finally see it go. One thing that I really loved about the book was how every character that I had met and every one of the main characters that I had grown to love came together in this final book. It felt so surreal to see how all of these characters found their way back to each other in the end, for the final battle, despite the many times they found themselves being separated and tortured in different ways. It was perfect that in the end they all came back together to make their final stand against Levana. It would all end in that moment, one way or another, but at least they were all together. Another thing that I really liked was the romance and how each of the couples that I had started to ship finally become canon. Even though I didn't get many romantic scenes throughout these 4 books, this final book had the final perfect scenes that actually mattered and that was more than enough to make me happy, though I wish I could see more of the characters. Although Winter was an amazing book and the ending was (mostly) perfect, there was one slight thing that made it a little less intense and perfect. In the end, I found it to be a little bit underwhelming and I didn't enjoy how the final battle, the one that had been built up throughout the book ended. I also found that it was a little unrealistic that after fighting for their lives for months and constantly finding themselves in life or death situations, no one actually died, at least none of the important characters. Although I'm not complaining that I didn't have the heartbreaking experience of losing another fictional friend, it definitely made the reading experience a bit unrealistic and disappointing. I find that the best books are those that break my heart and there could have definitely been more of that in this book. 

Which is your favourite book in the Lunar Chronicles series? (1, 2, 3 or 4)

Overall, I really loved reading the whole Lunar Chronicles series and I found that I enjoyed every one of the 4 books, however I think that my favourite book is probably Cress. One reason I enjoyed Cress more than the other books was that it was the first book where it felt like the real story and the real war had begun. It was clear that they weren't just planning anymore and they had started to execute their plan and begin to try to bring down Queen Levana. Although Winter clearly also had all these elements and was the main book with the plan starting to take place, I definitely found that I enjoyed Cress more than Winter. I found that Winter was a lot harder to read as it was a lot thicker and obviously took much longer to read because of this. Not only that but I found that I was slightly disappointed by the ending of the final novel and it could have been a more interesting final confrontation. However, overall Winter was great, but I just found that Cress stood out more to me and it was definitely my favourite. Honestly I'm just sad to see the series end and am so surprised at how much I enjoyed it, especially as I wasn't quite sure about it before I started.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend reading Winter and the whole Lunar Chronicles series in general. These are the perfect books for lovers of romance, dystopian fiction and fairy tale retellings with a twist. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

The stunning and action-packed final novel of a romance and dystopian fiction series.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego