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

FAIREST by Marissa Meyer

“‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?’ Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.”

What is the book about?

This short novella gives readers a glimpse into Levana's life before and as she gradually became the tyrant queen that we have grown to hate throughout the first 3 books of the Lunar Chronicles series. Levana was the youngest child, her older sister Channary was the one destined to be Queen of Luna. However, since she was old enough to understand what being queen meant she knew that she could and would be a much better queen than her sister, who couldn't care less about politics or their people. Not only that but she has always been confident that her sister didn't deserve the power and respect that would come with her new title as she is as cruel as she is beautiful. Ever since Levana could walk her sister tortured her and used her for her own enjoyment to the point that Levana has to use glamour constantly to cover the scars that her sister left on her after one traumatising day. Levana has her own story and it doesn't appear like she has always been as cruel and violent as we all thought. She may be the villain of Cinder's story, but she is the victim in her own story. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Initially I was a little annoyed that I had to read a novella before getting to the fourth and final novel in the Lunar Chronicles series, Winter. I was very keen to continue reading and find out how the story that just kept getting better would finally end, and I was so desperate that I considered leaving Fairest until after I read the final book in the main series. However, after reading the blurb of the book and finding out what the novella was actually about I was intrigued to read it. I didn't know what to expect but I knew I would enjoy it and I was very interested to find out the truth about Levana and what led her to become the cruel leader that will stop at nothing to get everything she wants. Soon my initial thoughts changed and I was no longer annoyed and much more excited to read it. Once I started reading I found it a little hard to get used to the novella as there were none of the characters that I had grown used to, however I soon got used to and found that I was enjoying it as much as the actual novels in the series. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I don't think I could choose a favourite character in this novella without it being partly a lie. It feels so wrong to say that I liked Levana after all she did and it is also clearly a lie. Even though I feel so bad for her and I know she would be a much better person if she hadn't been treated so badly since she was a child she is still a monster. Most of what she did she thought she was justified in doing and she made some very questionable decisions but every time she claimed she was doing it for the good of her kingdom. I know deep down she felt like she was good but slowly she turned into a monster and I cannot honestly say that I liked her. Even the other 'good' characters weren't exactly good and treated Levana so badly when all she was was just a child who had never felt love. Evret who strung her along for 10 years without telling her that he would never love her, when it was clear she believed that they could be happy together. Winter who would never address her directly, even when all she did was try to give her a mother. Her sister who tortured her and called her ugly since she was little and made her live in her shadow. Her parents who clearly didn't do any good parenting. Everyone in this book thought themselves to be good and thought they were fighting against the villain but it was clear that the villain was herself just a victim. No one deserves the title as my favourite character. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I honestly cannot pick a favourite part because this whole novella was just torture and threatened to tear me apart at any moment. In every single part of the book there was something so so sad that I could not keep out of my mind. The main theme throughout the whole book was that Levana just wanted to be happy and at every moment it was clear that she thought she was getting her happiness. When she married the love of her life without knowing he would never love her back, when her sister died and she realised she would finally get the chance to be queen, even if it was just for 12 years, when she killed her niece believing it was for the best and she would get to keep her role as leader of Luna, the thing that meant so much to her. She never even realised that she never actually had any of that. She spent years believing she had everything she could ever want and need and she didn't realise till the end that it was all a lie. I felt so bad for her and how she had been tortured and manipulated by everyone and had never had the protection and loved that she so craved. Every part was so tragic and I can't in good conscience choose a favourite part of such a sad book.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this short story and I soon found myself believing that maybe Levana was just misunderstood. One reason I really enjoyed the novella was because I got a glimpse into the past and some much needed information on the supposed villain of the Lunar Chronicles series. I always love when books have flashbacks and for some reason they are always my favourite parts. I love being able to see the characters that I have grown to really know as their younger selves and to see what made them who they are. However, I love novellas set in the past even more because it's a whole book dedicated to exactly what I said above. This book was exactly that but it was also so much more because it was a short story on the life of Queen Levana, the villain for all intents and purposes. This leads me on to another reason why I loved this book: it made me feel sorry for Levana. After everything she has done and everything that she is hoping to achieve I never thought anything, not even a whole story about her past, could change my mind on what a cruel and unfeeling woman she is. Although I still stand by these beliefs, I also know that she is also just a victim herself and one that has been mistreated by those who should have cared for her since she was young. Learning what her sister did to her broke my heart and how she continued to use the scars that she had against her and call her ugly when she is really just injured and broken was enough to leave me in tears. Although I won't condone her reactions and everything she did after that, she was just trying to protect herself and her people. She honestly thought that she was the best person to be Queen and if she let her young niece rule then she was sentencing her people to a terrible future. She did what she thought was right and, no matter how messed up it was, she sacrificed so much for Luna, including the one person she loved more than anything. The poor girl had never known love before and did everything she could to try to get someone to love her and when she realised that would never happen she gave everything up and threw herself into her role as queen and turned herself into a monster for what she thought was the good of her people. It was a great novella that left me feeling so much for this cruel Lunar Queen and I now don't know what to think. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend that anyone who has enjoyed reading the Lunar Chronicles series or is interested in starting it should read this short story. It offers some great new information and is full of all the stuff that you would love in the main novels of the series. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A short story full of romance and heartbreak that will leave you thinking that maybe there is never a villain, only victims that react differently to their suffering. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

CRESS by Marissa Meyer

“‘Even in the future, there are damsels in distress.. ’ Cress, having risked everything to warn Cinder about Queen Levana's evil plan, has a slight problem.  She's been imprisoned on a satellite since childhood and has only ever had 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 of Cress involving Cinder, Captain Thorne, Scarlet and Wolf goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.”

What is the book about?

Cress has lived on a satellite since childhood, alone with no one except her netscreens and her own imagination for company. She risked everything to let Cinder know about Queen Levana's plans and now has a huge problem. She has been ordered to track down the ship that Cinder and her allies are aboard for the queen. Although the tracking down was the easiest part, now the problem is that she doesn't want to give her mistress the information to give to Levana. So now she is risking her life further to keep Cinder and her friends safe from the people who want to kill them. However, when she is finally able to make contact with the Rampion, Cinder and her friends agree to rescue her and for once Cress thinks she is safe. But the rescue doesn't exactly go according to plan and the group gets separated. Now Queen Levana thinks she has won and won't let anything stop her marriage to Emperor Kai, but she didn't factor in the cyborg and her allies who will stop at nothing to protect Earth and Luna from her tyranny. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After finishing Scarlet I was really excited to continue reading and start the third book of this series that has definitely exceeded my expectations so far. In a way I feel like the end of Scarlet was the start of the true series, the true plot and battle against Levana. I was really excited to finally see Cinder face her and to embrace her true Lunar self. I started reading Cress almost instantly after Scarlet as I was really keen to continue the story and to find out what would happen next. I was quite confident that I would enjoy reading the book and that it would be just as good as the previous 2 books in this series. I honestly, now having read this book and the 2 previous ones, don't even know how I could have waited so long with the books just gathering dust on my shelf. Once I read the blurb I was even more intrigued as I was wondering how the group would get separated and how they would ever find themselves back together. Soon I started reading and I think this was the first book of the series where I was able to really get into it from the start, without having to read a few chapters before I really started enjoying it. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was probably once again Thorne or possibly even Cress. I really liked Thorne for the same reasons as I liked him in the previous book: his humour, charisma and just how entertaining and confident he seemed to be. Even though it might have been annoying to the other characters that he didn't really appear to take things seriously and was always just trying to keep things light and fun, I really liked that about him. However I liked him even more in this book as it was clear that he wasn't just all the stuff that I said above and that he wasn't always confident and sure of himself. He had doubts and was clearly just keeping up an act so that the other characters wouldn't panic even more. He was trying so hard to lighten the mood not only for his own benefit so that his thoughts about how he didn't actually know anything didn't catch up to him but also for his friends who worried far too much. Cress was a really interesting character and I really liked her mainly because of her imagination. She was constantly trying to trick herself into thinking she was somewhere else, doing something else, so that she wouldn't let all her worries take over, kind of like her own coping mechanism like Thorne's joking personality. I also liked how she reminded me of myself because I often find myself lost in my own little world, building up worlds in my head. I really liked both these characters and I definitely liked them together, even though not much happened (though there is a whole book left so I have hope).

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I honestly can't pick just one favourite part in this book as it's really just the whole book together that I enjoyed and not just one specific part. The whole vibe was just so great and I found that I loved everything about it. There wasn't one specific part of the book that stood out to me and it wouldn't be fair of me to single out just one part. Also there wasn't really many happy parts in the book as the characters were separated and constantly worrying about having to find themselves back together. I did really enjoy the time that Cinder spent in that village in Africa though, as I loved how the people living there helped her even though they knew the risks. However, the way that ended wasn't the most lovely thing so I can't really say that it was my favourite part. Honestly the whole book was just great and I can't wait to read the next one and enjoy it just as much. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Cress was a really great book and I really enjoyed reading every part of it. One thing that I really enjoyed was the link to the original Rapunzel throughout the whole novel. Some parts didn't quite seem obvious to me at first as I was initially comparing it to the Disney version, however soon the blindness started to make sense when I thought of the original version of the fairy tale. The long hair that was then cut, the fact that Cress was locked in a satellite all alone, the name Thorne and even the name Cress (another leafy vegetable like Rapunzel, which I think means lettuce is some language). It was such genius on the authors part and I am honestly in love with her approach to the fairy tale retellings throughout this whole series. Another thing that I really enjoyed was that we finally got to see parts of Luna (though the circumstances weren't exactly the best) and we also got to be introduced to the 4th girl who would be part of the final book of the series. This is the first time I knew who the book title was referring to in advance (though I suppose I have known since the first book) and it made me even more excited to read the next and final book in this series. I am so excited to finish the series and to see what happens at the end and I can't wait to read Winter.

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

All 3 of the books were absolutely amazing and I really enjoyed reading them, however I would probably say that so far Cress is my favourite book. One of the main reasons is that this book is partly based on the fairy tale of Rapunzel, which is my absolute favourite story and so obviously I have a huge soft spot for this book. Every link to the story made me so excited and made me love the book even more. Initially I wasn't quite sure what to expect or which was the fairy tale that would show up in the book as the title didn't showcase it like with the previous books but I was pleasantly surprised and gradually grew to really love it. Another thing I loved about the book that made it stand out more than the previous books was the fact that the main plan, the plan to finally face Levana and save everyone, was starting. It made me so excited as I was going to get to see Cinder embracing her future and her true identity and also see every character work together to save the world. Cress had  everything I had loved about the previous books (the short chapters and the fairy tale elements) but it also just had more that I enjoyed. So far the books have just been getting better so I just can't wait to see what Winter is like. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I recommend reading Cress but obviously after reading Cinder and Scarlet, the previous 2 books in the series. It is a great book for those who enjoy some romance, dystopian fiction and fairy tale retellings, with a shrinking of save the world vibes. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

Another perfect novel with a whirlwind of an adventure and great romance to make you squeal. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

SCARLET by Marissa Meyer

“‘Even in the future, beware of the big, bad wolf...’ Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the best-selling Lunar Chronicles. She is 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. 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.”

What is the book about?

Cinder is stuck in prison after being put there by Kai, who she was only trying to protect, and will be handed over to the Lunar Queen Levana as a bargaining tool. If she doesn't escape she will face trial on Luna which means only one thing – her execution. However, if she doesn't succeed in escaping she will be the Commonwealth's (and likely Earth's) most wanted and she is unlikely to be able to stay hidden for long. Halfway across the world, in a small village in France, Scarlet Benoit is facing her own nightmare. After years living peacefully with her grandmother on her farm, her grandmother is missing and no one seems to care, they all just think she ran because she was a little eccentric (or crazy as they like to say). But Scarlet knows that she would never do that and that something bigger and much worse happened, especially when her father shows up after years of no contact looking for something. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information on her grandmother's whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him. He says he will help her find her grandmother, and, despite having known him for less than a day, she goes with him to find her and gradually they start to feel a connection. As they begin to unravel the mystery on why her grandmother was taken in the first place, their adventure overlaps with Cinder's and they find themselves having to work together to keep Queen Levana from taking over the Commonwealth and then Earth.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I'm not kidding when I say that I started reading this book immediately after I finished Cinder. I had the book ready to go and after the cliffhanger ending that left me wanting more I was certainly glad for it. Since I had already read the first book in this series and had really enjoyed reading it, my initial thoughts Scarlet were very optimistic. I was quite sure that this book was going to be just as enjoyable as the previous one and that I would find it just as interesting. I was really intrigued to find out what happened next and was desperate to figure out how things would go, as everything was really up in there. The blurb intrigued me even more as I was going to meet completely new characters and it wasn't just going to be all about Cinder. I was also excited to see how Little Red Riding Hood was going to come into the story. Once I started to read I was initially disappointed like with Cinder and found it a little hard to get into the book and let the real world fade, however the doubts lasted less than with the previous book. Soon I was enjoying the book and found that once again I finished it in 2 days, reaching for the next book seconds after. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

There were a few characters that I liked in this book but I would probably say that my favourite character was Thorne. Even though he was probably ridiculously annoying to the other characters who didn't appreciate his jokes and his carefree attitude towards everything, I loved it. He added some much needed comedy and entertainment to the book as all the other characters were much too focused on not dying and trying to find a way to stop Queen Levana. It was probably the reason why I also really loved Iko whose enthusiastic personality didn't falter even when they were in the middle of a war. And when you put both of these characters together not only did that mean a headache for Cinder and whoever else was on the ship but it also made for great comedic relief. I can't wait to keep reading about them. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was probably the scene where Scarlet and Wolf were together in that train carriage. Ever since the two characters had met, there had been a clear attraction between them and it was also clear that neither wanted to act on it. It was such an obvious connection because if it had been anyone other than Wolf I don't think Scarlet would have just followed him blindly to Paris, or have trusted him enough to have him help her all the times they found themselves in trouble. However, neither of them was dumb enough to act on it when they had only known each other for a day, no matter how badly I wanted them to. Fortunately, whatever they felt for each other clearly took over their brains in that train carriage and for a few moments they were just Wolf and Scarlet, two teenagers without a care in the world and nothing to think about other than the other person. I really loved this scene and was glad for the moments of happiness these characters got because it was obvious that after a few more hours their whole lives were going to be completely different and much less manageable. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Scarlet was a stunning book and I really enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed it for a lot of the same things as Cinder, clearly showing the author's talent for satisfying her readers. One thing I loved was the short chapters which definitely made me like the book more. I love short chapters and they always make me feel like I am flying through a book and I'm sure anyone else would feel that way. The fact that you can say you are on chapter 15 in less than half an hour feels like such a prize. It made me feel like the book was so easy to read and I'm sure it was part of the reason why I finished the whole book so quickly. Another thing I really enjoyed was how this book flowed so easily from the previous one. It was so clear that Marissa Meyer knew what she was doing and had intended even when she first started writing for this to be a 4 book series. I loved how I was easily transported back into the dystopian world and how everything fit together so well, with things that I had initially dismissed in Cinder becoming much more significant than I could have ever though in this book. One last thing was how once again the fairy tale story (this time Little Red Riding Hood) was so subtly incorporated into the story. I loved to see the similarities between the stories and I can't wait to see what fairy tale pops up next. 

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

Although I enjoyed both Cinder and Scarlet and found that both were amazing, I would say that my favourite out of the two of them was definitely Scarlet. There are a couple reasons for this... Firstly, I really enjoyed having more points of view involved in the story and loved how this book was almost following 2 different storylines that were linked together in more ways than one. I found this much more engaging because it was much easier to read as I was always on edge hoping to get back to the next perspective so I could find out what happened next. Secondly, I found that the reveals throughout this book were much less predictable and I found myself being really surprised at some points of the story, really shocked to find out how certain things linked together. It was definitely more engaging and less predictable than the previous book and I found myself loving every second of it. Now I can't wait to read the next book of the series and keep going in this surprisingly amazing plot. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend Scarlet (though obviously read Cinder – the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series – first) and think it is a great book for romance, dystopian and fairy tale lovers. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A thrilling adventure set in the future with the perfect sprinkling of romance and the looming threat of war.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

CINDER by Marissa Meyer

“‘Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon A Time...’ 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... Sixteen-year-old 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. Because there is something unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for.”

What is the book about?

This story is set in the future, after World War 4 where now everyone is dependent on androids and hovers. In New Beijing, the streets are always crowded with androids, humans and cyborgs (which are humans with metallic parts that have been placed in them after serious accidents occur to give them a second chance at life). Not only that but a deadly disease, a plague, also roams the streets of the whole of Earth, threatening the lives of the whole population with no cure in sight. Sixteen-year-old Cinder was adopted at age 11 by her stepfather, whose death she is blamed for by her stepmother. She is a cyborg, a second class citizen and treated as a slave by her stepmother and now also blamed for her stepsister's illness. Her life was already a disaster, but when the handsome, loved Prince Kai suddenly comes into her life, she finds herself in the middle of an intergalactic struggle for peace and a struggle through her emotions. She must now uncover the secrets about her past, the past she cannot remember, in order to protect the future of her planet. But she never asked for any of this and will have to choose between her freedom and loyalty to her country. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I bought the Lunar Chronicles series years ago (seriously!) and have had it sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. I kept meaning to read it, interested to see why so many people had enjoyed them. I had read a few books by Marissa Meyer before and had really enjoyed them so my initial thoughts were that this book would be great and I would really enjoy it. I love fairy tale retellings and have loved them since I was little and was really interested to see what this one would be like. I knew it was going to be a really wild retelling and I was really intrigued to see how the author would approach the iconic Cinderella in China in the future, but I had hope for it, especially after seeing how popular the books were. After reading the blurb I was even more interested as I wanted to see how the threat of war from an entirely different race of people living on the moon would become part of the story. Soon I started to read the book and initially I was a little disappointed as I found it difficult to really get into the story and become absorbed in the new dystopian world of New Beijing. However, after a few chapters, it really started to pick up and I began to really enjoy the story and find myself a part of the book. It took a little bit of time for me to get into it but soon I was soaring through and I finished the book in 2 days, realising that I shouldn't have waited so long to start the book.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was probably Iko, which may be a bit odd to some as she wasn't a main character really and was just an android, but I loved her. Her energy and personality was so sweet and energetic that it was almost impossible not to love her. The way she acted like an actual human and had the personality of a teenage girl simply because she had a ‘damaged’ personality chip. I loved how excited she got about the prince and how she was there for Cinder to keep her company and to kind of give her a glimpse into the life of a teenage girl and kept her from just being absorbed into her role as a mechanic and a slave for her stepmother. She was so easy to like and it made me smile how happy she always was and how much she liked all the things that I like all girls love. It was also clear that Cinder cared for her as I do and that she loved having her friendship. Even though I'm sure it must be annoying at times to have such a chatterbox to assist you, especially when you are busy with work, but I loved Iko and hope to see her soon in the next books. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This was a really hard question to answer, not just because I had enjoyed the whole book but also because I finished the book 2 sittings, in 2 days and every part just blurred together and I could honestly only remember the story as a whole and not any specific parts. However, after some thought, I would probably say that my favourite part was when Cinder made up her mind on how she would use the money she had gotten. She had never had money to use as she pleased as everything she owned was her stepmother's as her stepmother owned her, however finally she had money and made the most significant decision of her life. She chose to work on the car, work on her escape from a life at her stepmother's beck and call, work on her freedom. I knew she'd never actually leave as that would make one depressing and pointless book if all the main character did was runway, but I loved to see that defiance and that after years being treated as nothing by her stepmother and stepsister (Pearl) and hundreds of others who thought her a disgusting no one because she was a cyborg. She finally chose to stand up for herself and I knew that it wouldn't be the last time. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I thought Cinder was a really great book and I enjoyed reading it. Initially I wasn't quite sure what to expect of a Cinderella type story set in China with the main girl being a cyborg, however I was pleasantly surprised and found that I really enjoyed it. I really liked how it wasn't exactly a fairy tale retelling and it was more like there were just elements of the Cinderella that I grew up with and that the actual story, the actual plot was a lot deeper than the simple fairytale that anyone could tell. The car that was a faint orangy colour (like a pumpkin), the name Cinder, the fact that she had an evil stepmother and stepsister, the foot lost on the steps, and (though this may just be my own little thought, which I will continue to believe even if told otherwise) Peony as her fairy godmother who gave her a dress. I loved the incorporation of these elements into what will clearly become a much bigger story. Another thing I really liked about the book was how easy it was to read. The short chapters, every single one of them, was like a breath of fresh air and made me love the book even more. If you are a reader you will know what I mean when I say that it felt like a reward to have a book with all short chapters and that it was much easier to read this way. One thing that did kind of annoy me was how predictable this book was and how I saw the big reveal from miles away, and it had nothing to do with the fact that I knew Cinderella's story inside out (though I predicted that she would lose the foot because of that). I would have liked to have been a bit more surprised as I love plot twists and big reveals, though I suppose it might have been a surprise to some. Either way I am excited to continue the series and so interested to see how the author will incorporate other fairy tales into the series and to see how the deeper story develops. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend reading the book, it is a really interesting and enjoyable book, especially for over 14 year olds who enjoy romance, dystopian fiction and fairy tale retellings (especially non traditional ones).

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An interesting science fiction twist on a traditional fairy tale.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES by Suzanne Collins

“‘Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price.’ It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmanoeuvre his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute. The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined – every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the area it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute…and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.”

What is the book about?

After the districts rebelled against the Capitol and lost the war, the Capitol started the Hunger Games, an annual competition where a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 picked at random from each of the 12 districts would fight to the death in an arena until a sole victor remained. However, the Hunger Games is not having the impact the creators were expecting and in order to increase the interests of the public each tribute in the tenth Hunger Games will have a mentor, who will be one of the top students from the Academy. Coriolanus Snow is one of the mentors and his only goal is to do everything in his power to beat the other 23 mentors and end up with the winning tribute because, since the war left his family with nothing, he has no other way to get the money he needs to go to university and make a name for himself, possibly even become the president. However, when he is given the most humiliating position as the mentor for the female tribute from District 12, he believes there is no hope for him until he finally sees the girl on screen and realises that Lucy Gray Baird may still win him a money prize. Their fates are now intertwined – every choice Coriolanus makes outside the arena will determine Lucy Gray’s chance of survival and his own academic future and every move Lucy Gray makes inside the area could lead to her own death and determine Coriolanus’s chance at a real future. Coriolanus must do everything he can to help himself and his tribute, but how far is he willing to go to win and is he willing to give up his integrity and need to follow the rules in order to do so?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I honestly had completely forgotten I had bought the book and had it on my kindle for at least a couple of years and I think it would have remained unread for another couple of years if I hadn’t had seen it on my friend’s bookshelf and been reminded of the fact that I still hadn’t read it. This still wasn’t enough to get me to read it as I got home and once again forgot about it, but when I found out the movie was in cinemas I was desperate to start reading it so I could watch the movie (as there is no way I ever watch a movie before reading the book). Once I made up my mind that I would read the book I was so excited to start reading it as I had loved reading the Hunger Games trilogy and was so excited to read the prequel and find out what led President Snow to become the tyrant leader Katniss was determined to destroy. Reading the blurb only fuelled my interest in the book as I grew even more intrigued by the development Hunger Games and the mentoring by students that I hadn’t seen in the original trilogy. However, when I started to read I found The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was not nearly as interesting and well-written as the main series books were, which may be due to the 10 year gap between the publication of this prequel and Mockingjay (the third and final book in the trilogy) and also the trilogy was in the first person (in Katniss’s point of view) and the prequel is written in the third person, making it more difficult to really understand Coriolanus and really get involved in the story as it felt less personal and more like watching from the side-lines. But, after the first several chapters, when there started to be more violent and dramatic events taking place in the book, things started to get more interesting and the book as easier to read. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character would probably have to be Sejanus because of how much I admired his actions. He certainly wasn’t perfect and a lot of the time I thought he was a gullible idiot who didn’t know what he wasn’t doing. His actions destroyed his future and the whole time he thought that Snow was his best friend, he was really alone. However, despite these flaws (which were really just things that we are all guilty of doing from time to time) he was really brave and was willing to stand up to the Capitol when no one else would. He did and said things that no one else would ever even think of doing and definitely not for the reasons he did it. He never wanted anything more than to get them to stop torturing the districts and to get to go back home to District Two and the fact that he never got to do that broke my heart. I admired him throughout the whole book and will always hate Snow for not seeing how much Sejanus needed him and how much he needed Sejanus. If he had never done what he did to Sejanus maybe he would have seen that some things are more important than power and money, however he never trusted Sejanus who only ever wanted to help and that was his biggest mistake. Sejanus was the first person to speak his mind to the people in charge of the Hunger Games and he never even though about the repercussions because he just wanted them to know what they were doing was monstrous and because of that I will always admire him and his courage. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I didn’t really have a favourite part of the book as the whole book kind of blurred into one and wasn’t the easiest thing to read. But I will say (mainly to fill in this space) that I did like a lot of the parts where Sejanus did something stupid and rebellious because it showed me that not everyone living in the Capitol was corrupt, only thinking about power and how to get more money. I always thought about how idiotic it was for him to do some of the things he did because, if the Capitol was willing to kill 24 innocent children every year, they wouldn’t even blink an eye at ordering him to be killed for his rebel sympathising acts. However I also admired him deeply because he was willing to do what no one else would, to speak out when no one else would and to show these people that what they were doing was wrong. They may not have listened to him and it may have taken them another 65 years to change but things will never change unless we let people know we aren’t happy with them as they are and are willing to do something about it, which is what Sejanus was willing to do. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I found that the book was a bit of a disappointment and wasn’t nearly as good as I was expecting, however it was still rather interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Snow and how he became the villain of the trilogy. One thing I enjoyed about the book was the fact that I got to read about Snow’s story and learn how he ended up becoming the tyrannical president Katniss was so intent on defying in the trilogy. He was truly evil – I read the books and there is no point trying to argue in his defence – however, evil is made not born and I was always interested in finding out Snow’s story and discovering why he because the psychotic man I was familiar with. Reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes helped me understand him a bit and how his fear of becoming insignificant and not living up to the Snow family name led him to believe that the only way out was to betray those closest to him. He went crazy for power, which can happen to any one of us, and he let that ambition drive him away from the love, friendship, loyalty and integrity he had been so proud of at the start of the book. He was just 18 – barely an adult – and yet he was expected to do so much and he let himself become corrupt and as a result he lost everything that made him good. I loved seeing this and, though I may feel sorry for the guy, I know that what he did can never be forgiven. Another thing that I liked about this book was seeing the development of the Hunger Games. I found it so interesting that the extravagant spectacle that I had read about in the trilogy and saw on the TV through the movies started out as 24 tributes fighting for their lives in a dirty, collapsed arena in the Capitol, barely being fed and not being treated as well as Katniss and Peeta were for their games. Right at the end of the book you see how Snow was the one to propose several of the changes to the games that we saw in the other books, such as Victor’s Village, the series of grand houses saved for the victors and their families. The fact that someone so young could suggest something to make people more willing to be involved in the killing of young children is just shocking and when I found out that the Hunger Games were initially suggested (not really intentionally)  by another young man horrified me. It was so intriguing and disgusting to see young people willingly suggesting ways to torture children just because they come from the districts who rebelled many years before. Although all of this was very interesting and I did like this information, I didn’t think the book lived up to my expectations. I loved reading The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay and found them so easy to read and I had been expecting the same for the prequel however it took me far too long to get into the book and I never fully did because it was nowhere near as good as I thought it would have been. Maybe it was the years between the books, or the change in perspective or the new characters but I was very disappointed in Suzanne Collins writing and really expected more from her. It felt like the book really dragged on (which it kind of did as it was rather long), however I do understand that there was a lot that needed to be covered, though it could have been done in a more interesting manner. The writing could have been much better, however I did like learning about Snow and I know that if I got a chance to go back in time and pick up the book for the first time again I would probably make the same decision (though I definitely won’t be reading the book a second time).

Would you recommend this book?  

If you enjoyed reading the Hunger Games trilogy, I definitely recommend reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as it is a good book that gives you a detailed addition to the events that led to Katniss winning the 74th Hunger Games and leading the rebellion. However, on its own it isn’t the best book and, although I think anyone over 14 who loves dystopian fiction, action and adventure will enjoy it, I wouldn’t recommend reading it unless you are willing to stick through the more difficult moments. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An interesting addition to the world of Panem and the Hunger Games, full of love, friendship and betrayal, 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

The Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi: Reading Order

With a series as big as the Shatter Me series, it can be quite overwhelming and I know that I was also quite confused as to which order to read the books, especially when all the novellas came into play. After a bit of research and looking at different reviews and comments online, I found the perfect reading order, which is the one I have used when reading the books and reviewing them for you. I have decided to post it in order to encourage you all to read the series and to give you a helping hand (as I know how hard it can be). It is as follows:

1. Shatter Me (Book 1)
2. Unravel Me (Book 2)
3. Unite Me 
1. Destroy Me (Book 1.5)
2. Fracture Me (Book 2.5)
3. Juliette's Journal
4. Ignite Me (Book 3)
5. Restore Me (Book 4)
6. Defy Me (Book 5)
7. Find Me 
1. Shadow Me (Book 4.5)
2. Reveal Me (Book 5.5)
8. Imagine Me (Book 6)
9. Believe Me (Book 6.5)

Please do not be concerned by the length of this series, I promise that it will be worth it and you will love it so much. In reality, although it may look daunting, it actually it didn't take me as long to read it as I would have thought. I have recommended it already to all of my friends and have literally thrown it at my sister to try to get her to read it because this series is truly incredible. I think the Shatter Me series is undoubtedly my favourite series at the moment and I hope that others feel the way I do.