#Review - Cursed by Marissa Meyer #YA #Fantasy #Adaptions

Series: Gilded # 2
Format: Hardcover, 496 pages
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Genre: YA / Fantasy / Adaptions

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid's haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking's hunger for vengeance won't be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild's forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda's journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

Marissa Meyer's Cursed is the second and final installment in the authors Gilded duology. Gilded is the authors retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. It has been 7 weeks since Serilda and her body was trapped in Adalheid Castle because of a deadly game with the Erlking, or Alder King. As the descendant of Wyrdith, Serilda's stories have gotten her into a sticky situations as well as ensnared in a deadly game with the Erlking, who is determined to propel her deeper into the castle’s lies and secrets.  

The Erlking has forced Serilda to become his wife during the Summer Solstice, but he's not aware that Serilda has unexpectedly became pregnant. He's hoping to be able to use her powers for his own gain. Serilda has no choice but to play along since she has her own agenda. She's determined to help Gild aka Poltergeist, solve the mystery of his forgotten past which was erased from history as well as the former royal family which was slaughtered by the Erlking and his Dark Ones. 

The Erlking also plots revenge against the seven gods who trapped the Dark Ones and his lover Perchta behind the veil. If he succeeds, it could change the mortal realm forever. Each full moon, while the Erlking takes the dark ones out to hunt hoping to capture one of the 7 Gods, Gild and Serilda search the castle for their not-quite-dead corpses although. While the ghosts of five children so dear to her, she has to stick around, see out the deal she made: marry the Alder King, pose as the happy Alder Queen.

As the story progresses, the tone becomes much darker. There are twists and turns, and a wide range of characters, both old and new, including a girl who is found during Serilda and Gild's search for their bodies, appear throughout the book. Secrets and deceptions are exposed, and more of Gild's past and name is revealed. Gild’s roguish charm and mischievousness was offset by several nuanced and emotional scenes surrounding the loss of his memories and an unexplainable sense of guilt. A fitting ending to this duology. 

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#Review - Gilded (Gilded #1) by Marissa Meyer #YA #Fantasy

Series: Gilded # 1
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations

In Gilded, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer returns to the fairytale world with this haunting tale.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Gilded, by author Marissa Meyer, is the first installment in what is being sold as the retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and the Wild Hunt featuring 18-year old Serilda Moller as the primary storyteller. Cursed by Wyrdith, the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue. Or so everyone believes. Thanks to her golden wheeled eyes, and the fact that her mother disappeared years before, Serilda's only outlet is the children she keeps entertained while being an assistant to Madam Sauer.

After Serilda saves two moss maidens from the Erlking's hunt, and tells one of her outlandish tales which has left her with no friends, she draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters. She soon finds herself in a world full of ghouls, ghosts, monsters and other creatures from nightmares and hollow-eyed ravens that track her every move. Because of her lie, she is forced to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. 

In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy who we will call Gild (Vergoldetgeist) to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain. But there is more to Gild than meets the eye. Serilda soon realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever. 

Every time Serilda tries to escape and return home, she's brought right back to the castle and forced to make more gold. Even after meeting a woman and her young daughter, and trying to find safe haven, it doesn't last very long. When the Erlking takes five children from her village who were an eager audience of Serilda's tales and stories, she knows she is in deep trouble with no outlet for escape. Gilded encompasses the dark and sinister aspects of the original German fairy tales while creating something new and enchanting.

This is the first part of a planned duology with the finale coming out November 2022. Unfortunately, there are some damnable spoilers on Goodreads that tells readers what they can expect next. At times, I really do wish the publisher would wait until shortly before release date in order to add the synopsis to the sequel. This book is repetitive at times, and probably could have been cut back by a 100 pages or more. The worldbuilding is probably the one thing the author does well as we are not just stuck in one place, but several places as Serilda tries to find a way to escape from the Erlking and find out if her mother is alive or not. 

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#Review - Supernova by Marissa Meyer #Fantasy #Superheroes

Series: Renegades (#3)
Format: Hardcover, 560 pages
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Superheroes

All's fair in love and anarchy...

The epic conclusion to Marissa Meyer's thrilling Renegades Trilogy finds Nova and Adrian struggling to keep their secret identities concealed while the battle rages on between their alter egos, their allies, and their greatest fears come to life. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed as anarchy once again threatens to reclaim Gatlon City.  

Supernova is the third and final installment in author Marissa Meyer's Renegades trilogy. The story once again alternatives between Nova Artino nee McLain (Nightmare & Insomnia) and Adrian Everheart (Sketch & Sentinel). The aftermath of Archenemies is immediately felt. Nova was successful in stealing back Ace Anarchy's helmet, but in the aftermath, Max was left as a innocent victim of her fight with the Renegades. Several Renegades where hit with Agent N thus making them basically human. Nova could be exposed at any moment.

 

From the first book onward, Nova thought that the Renegades were to blame for the tragic death of her parents and little sister Evie. Where were they with their promises to protect her family? It was Ace who took her in and raised her to be an Anarchist with the ability to put someone to sleep with only a touch. One could call it brainwashing. After all, Nova spent her life with Leroy, Honey and Phobia believing Ace was her hero and the Renegades were true villains. Nova's walk between doing what's right, and doing the wrong thing, was a tightrope that I was glad to have read.

 

Adrian hates Nightmare, but is absolutely in love with Nova. Adrian is the son of two Renegade Council members as well as the son of Lady Indomitable who was killed by someone unknown to him. Adrian has spent his life trying to find the person who killed his mother. He has a remarkable talent for using tattoos to make his alias Sentinel even more impressive. He adores his younger brother Max, but will his secret finally be revealed to his fathers as to who he has been spotlighting as? What will he do when it discovers Nova's true identity?

 

There are so many surprises and revelations in this story that to actually spoil any of them, would defeat the entire idea of reading the book for yourself. Nova's world definitely becomes much, clearer in this book after a series of events that leads to a massive reveal. The villains are not necessarily villains but they do villainous things in this book that leads to a major conflict between the Renegades and Anarchists. The heroes are definitely not what you would expect. After all, who uses a chemical agent to neutralize anyone with powers? Instead of using law enforcement to carry out justice, they choose who gets to live with their powers or not. 

 

I adored Max and the author doesn't let readers down by putting Max into the thick of things when the final conflicts are brought to bear.  I liked how Adrian and Nova explored the gray areas between "good" and "evil". That. Ending. Killed. ME! Seriously! Read the book, but pay particular attention so that when a certain character pops up in the Epilogue, you don't scream, WHO THE HELL WAS THAT? like I did because I'm an idiot. 

 

I can't imagine what was going through the author's head when she thought let's introduce this character, forget about her except at key moments, make it as though Nova hated her guts, and then slam the readers in the head with the most shocking revelation imaginable and then close the story as though nothing happened! I demand a recount! I demand another story featuring this character! I want her to find her own happy ending and discover the truth that's she not alone! I really thought about lowering my rating after the identity was revealed to me since I apparently slept walked though part of the book!

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#Review - Archenemies by Marissa Meyer #YALit #Superheroes

Series: Renegades (#2)
Format: E-Galley, 496 pages
Release Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publishers
Genre: Young Adult / Superheroes

The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Time is running out.
Together, they can save the world.
But they are each other’s worst nightmare.

In Renegades, Nova and Adrian (aka Insomnia and Sketch) fought the battle of their lives against the Anarchist known as the Detonator. It was a short-lived victory.

The Anarchists still have a secret weapon, one that Nova believes will protect her. The Renegades also have a strategy for overpowering the Anarchists, but both Nova and Adrian understand that it could mean the end of Gatlon City – and the world – as they know it.

 

Archenemies is the second installment in author Marissa Meyer's Renegades trilogy. The story revolves around and alternates between two main characters: Adrian Everhart (Sketch) and Nova McLean (Insomnia). In Gatlon City, there are two factions of heroes and superheroes. There are the Renegades, and the Anarchists. After the first installment in this series, the Anarchists are feeling the pain of losing, while the Renegades are collectively working towards something even more shocking.

For Nova McLain who goes by both Insomnia and Nightmare, her world revolves around one thing; getting revenge on the Renegades who didn't do anything to save her family. Nova unwittingly has become something of a hero to the Renegades by removing a dangerous threat. Nova has quite a bit to handle in this installment. She has to try get back Ace's helmet; she has to discover a way to counter act the Renegades new weapon; and she has to find a way to gain revenge on the Sentinel her personal archnemesis. 

For Adrian, who also goes by Sentinel, his goal has been to find those responsible for killing his mother, while keeping his secret identity and the tattoos he has created on his body from being revealed. The curious thing about the story is that Adrian's Sentinel persona is now thought of as dangerous as the Anarchists, while Nova is a heroine. Funny how that works when you fight and help save people's lives but don't go by the Renegades rules.

I would say that Meyer ups her game in this installment. Meyer jumps right into the action from the first page, and doesn't let up until the final chapter. While the story adds yet another new villain, it also adds an element to the story that really gets you thinking as a reader. How far would the government, or in this case, the Renegades go in order to keep the peace and remove anyone who steps out of line even a little bit? 

There is an old adage that says there's no good or bad, black or white. Not until you add the human element and free choice into the equation. Are the Anarchists all bad? Some are, yes. Are the Renegades all good? No way, Jose, especially Genissa and her squad. The back and forth between Adrian and Nova has really gone to another level but I really can't see how it can endure what comes next. I do have a questions about Nova, her fathers bracelet, and her apparent connection to Ace's helmet. I would have loved to see more of Hawthorne. This is a villain who really gives Doctor Octopus (Spider Man) a run for his money. The ending has all but assured that I will read the third and final installment. 

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Friday #Review - Renegades by Marissa Meyer #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Renegades # 1
Format: Hardcover, 576 pages
Release Date: November 7, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.

Secret Identities.
Extraordinary Powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to the villains who have the power to end them both.

"We were all villains in the beginning."

Renegades, by author Marissa Meyer, is the first installment in the authors Renegades series. Once upon a time in Galton City, prodigies were feared by the rest of the world. They became hunted. Tormented. Mocked and oppressed. They were believed to be witches and abominations. Then a man came along named Ace Anarchy who I have read other reviewers calling him Magneto because of his head gear. Ace changed everything by uniting the most powerful prodigies like Phobia, Detonator, Queen Bee, and the Puppeteer calling themselves Anarchists. 

The Age of Anarchy would last for 20 years before a group of prodigies known as the Renegades stepped up and took down Ace & the Anarchists. When Nova Artino was 6 years old, her family was murdered. In the aftermath, Nova, who is Ace's niece, became bitter and sought revenge against the Renegades who promised they would be there for her family. Nova became an Anarchist known as Nightmare. Her skill set as a designer of weapons is unmatched. Her primary goal is to take down the Renegade Council once and for all. Only then can she gain her revenge.

9 years after the Battle of Galton, Nova, after failing to assassinate Captain Chromium and barely escaping a fight against Renegade prodigies and a character named Sentinel, decides that if you can't beat them, join them & fight them from the inside. She ends up participating in a prodigy trial under the assumed name of Insomnia. Nova passes her test by defeating a Hulk-like character named Gargoyle. It leads to her being added to Adrian Everhart's team. As Nova finds her footing among her new teammates and the other Renegades, she realizes that things aren't as clear as she once thought. 

On the other side we find Adrian, the boy who lost his Renegade mother when he was young, and was later adopted by two of the council's original members. Adrian has a few surprises up his sleeve. He is known as Sketch because whatever he draws can come to life. Adrian is also the character called Sentinel but nobody, not his friends, not his fathers, nobody knows who he is. He is on the hunt for Nightmare who came close to killing his adoptive father. When the chips are down, can Adrian find Nightmare, or will he crash and burn? 

There is a whole lot more to talk about but let's just say that the plot has numerous twists. The characters remind me of a cross between the X-men and the Young Elites. Meyer creates a fantastic world that is still struggling to pick itself up after years of turmoil and gangs controlling everything. This is a story that mixes up what it means to be good and bad. Nova isn't necessarily a bad person. She believes that the Renegades broke a promise to her family and therefore she deserves her revenge. Meanwhile, Adrian's loss of his mother is a bit of a mystery. A mystery that really gets deep when you start to add up certain events that happened apparently at the same time. I enjoyed this story but really feel as though it could have been a whole lot shorter. The last part of this story kind of leaves you pondering why Meyer would need 500 pages after that revelation!

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#Monday Review - Heartless by Marissa Meyer #YALit, #Fantasy, #Retellings @marissa_meyer @FeiwelFriends

Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 449 pages
Release Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Retellings

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Author Marissa Meyer, best known for her Lunar Chronicles series, takes on one of the more iconic villains of all time. The Queen of Hearts from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Before she became the monarch who is best known for saying, "Off with their heads!" Lady Catherine Pinkerton dreamed of being the best baker in the Kingdom of Hearts. Catherine was so good at baking, that she caught the eye of the King of Hearts as well as others such as the Knave of Hearts. Catherine also had a curious ability to dream about something, and have it appear in real life.

There have been numerous recreations that have featured Alice, Cheshire, the Mad Hatter, and others. Meyer does a brilliant job of leading Lady Catherine from wannabe baker, into the Queen who turned her Kingdom upside down. You really have to feel the emotions that Meyer puts her character through. She's basically has her heart set on pushing ahead with her best friend Mary Ann in opening a bakery. One could say that life throws you curveballs more times than it gives you breaks. Cath's curveball just happened to be her parents who pushed her into a loveless marriage to the King of Hearts.

Cath has her own romantic interest in Jest, the Court Joker who brings a whole new side to her character. She has her own hopes and dreams. Even after being forced into wearing a bright red dress to a black and white ball, Cath would rather not have anything to do with her parents attempts at pushing her into marriage. From a wild tea party with Jest, to an unforgivable twist that will break readers hearts to pieces, Cath slowly realizes that things cannot be the way she wants them to be. Cath's relationship with her parents is one that I wouldn't want to wish on anyone.

All villains have a back story. They don't just come out of the womb ready to behead everyone who sneezes the wrong way. I believe that all good stories are the ones that search for reasons why good people turn towards the darkness. Most of us know the story of Anakin Skywalker who later became Darth Vader. We can even add Disney's Maleficent, who was good, until she was pushed to her breaking point and became a villain. Alice in Wonderland has been a cult classic for generations because of Alice's confrontation with the Queen of Hearts. 

In closing, Heartless is a story that will keep readers entertained from the first page until the story comes to a breath taking conclusion. Meyer's definitely has her own world building and style when it comes to retellings. 

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#Thursday Review - Fairest: The Lunar Chronicles: Levana's Story by Marissa Meyer (Young Adult, Science Fiction)

Series: The Lunar Chronicles # 3.5
Format: Hardcover, 220 pages
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is 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. 

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

*Main Character(s): Princess Levana Blackburn, Queen Channery, Sir Evret Hayle, & Winter Hayle-Blackburn

*Setting* Luna

Fairest, Lunar Chronicles 3.5, is the story of Queen Levana who is the vilest villain of them all regardless of what the mirror may say. Fairest answers a slew of questions about the villain of The Lunar Chronicles series. Although I have already read and reviewed Winter, Lunar Chronicles # 4, other readers may want to read this short story first. Should readers feel anger or compassion towards her? Should readers understand and forgive Levana for doing the evil things she did? Can you put blame for Levana's actions on someone else, or does evil need no outside influence to fundamentally change a person?

Fairest starts out with Levana and her older sister, Channery, ready to attend the state funeral of King Marrok and Queen Jannali who were brutally murdered. As this is readers first real experience with Channery, might I say that you really should pay attention closely to her own actions towards her younger sister? Channery is most devious and arrogant and definitely lax on who she lays with. Fairest answers the questions as to why Levana wears a veil, and what exactly she looks like under it, and why. It answers questions about Winter's father, and really, the depths of Levana's true madness which can either be blamed on her own actions, or being pushed to the brink by her sister.

The end result of this story for me, is that I truly have no compassion towards her, nor would I be sympathetic towards anyone else who chooses darkness over light. I really do think that evil is a choice, and we can all pull back from the abyss if we really try harder. For Levana, using a particular Glamour was made out of luring others to her call, and not because it was forced onto her by her sister, or anyone else. We can look at the other main characters of this story like Cinder, Scarlet, Winter, and even Cress and see how they didn't have the best lives, but choose to fight evil, rather than join it at the hip.

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#Friday Review - Winter by Marissa Meyer (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: The Lunar Chronicles # 4
Format: Hardcover, 824 pages
Release Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as 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 have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters

Winter is the fourth installment in The Lunar Chronicles series by author Marissa Meyer. Winter is probably the largest book that I've ever read, besides the bible, and perhaps Harry Potter. Winter is a story that has plenty of revolving storylines and characters. Everyone from Cinder (Princess Selene), Emperor Kai, Captain Thorne, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Iko, Jacin Clay, and Queen Levana get their final say in what happens between Lunar and Earth. So, let's say hello to the final character in the series, Princess Winter Hayle-Blackburn. Winter is much loved by the people of Lunar. 

How do I know that? Because the author drives the point through our brains almost continually. Winter is a strange, broken, lovable, and bit shit crazy character who we briefly met after Scarlet was captured and given to Winter as a pet. She has an infinity for animals, has some very vivid hallucinations, including blood on walls, and turning into ice, but refuses to use her Lunar magic of mind control and glamouring to manipulate a persons bio-electricity. Winter has some major issues with her villainous step-mother Queen Levana. 

Whether it is because Levana's past (which you will find more about by reading Fairest), or because Winter is much adored by almost everyone on Lunar, any warm feelings between the two are non-existent and intentionally antagonistic on Levana's side. Winter isn't responsible for Levana's hatred of her, nor the fact that she would rather see her dead. I dare say that I would have been happier with more of Winter's story, including Winter and Selene's past, rather than what we have. I totally understand that Meyer needed to move ahead with the revolution or readers would be chopping their own fingers off in disappointment. 

In other news, cyborg/human Cinder (Princess Selene) and the rest of the Rampion crew, now including Kai, have plan to oust Levana from her throne and rescue Scarlet. The plan involves traveling to Luna, and hopefully rallying the less fortunate and others to overthrow the evil queen and her monsters who have chosen to start a war with Earth. Cinder is still the lead character even after four books. It is her revolution against a Queen who has no business being on the throne. It is her actions, or mistakes, that will have lasting impacts for not only Earth, but for all of the residents of Lunar as well. 

I love a villain who is a bit on the psychotic side. Levana is just plain evil, and hasn't changed one iota since we first met her. Villains make their own choices in life, and Levana had plenty of chances to change her path before she made her own fate and decisions. Readers have wanted a Cinder vs. Levana cage match since the very beginning of this series. While there is a particularly interesting scene that also includes Cress, and Thorne, there is lots and lots of other things to sort out in the meantime. 

I am OK with how this series ended. Maybe could have been reduced by 300 pages or so, but it is what it is. I loved Winter, especially when she is with Jacin. He has a calming influence on her, and keeps her in the here and now, rather than a make believe world. I am A-OK with Cress and Thorne, even though Thorne is still a womanizing man whore at times. I loved that Meyer finally gets past the pensiveness between the characters.

I am A-OK with Scarlet and Wolf and their future. No matter how many trials and tribulations these two have been through, they will always be amazing together. Scarlet never once gave up on Wolf, not even when things are the darkest and the revolution is in full swing. I adore Iko. I love her spunkiness, her adoration for Kai, and her steadfast friendship and love for Cinder. I love the revelation and her response to it after being told she may have the key to thwarting Lunar glamour in her head.

I was a bit surprised, shocked, curious as to why Meyer ended this story like she did. I could see another avenue, but I'm not the writer. It's her baby, not mine. As I said previously, it would have been fun to have a bit of Winter and Princess Selene background before all was said and done. Kind of felt a bit for Winter on this issue. Selene obviously meant something to Winter even though Winter was older. 

Will probably need to read Fairest one of these days to find out the whole story behind Lunatic Queen Levana. Readers/reviewers are a fickle bunch. Don't give them enough romance, and we toss a hissy fit. Don't have enough blood and guts and actions, and we get bored, and toss the book aside for another day. I think there is a fair amount of both in this installment. You really can't flood the story any further with more action, and more romance without reaching 1,000 pages. So, as we close the chapter on Cinder and her friends story, I am happy that I started this long journey in the first place. 

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