Book Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: February 2014
Pages: 560
Source: Purchased
For: Fun
Series: Lunar Chronicles, Book 3

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for Cinder and Scarlet*

Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high 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.

Things I Liked:
This series just gets better and better.  I can't seem to get the stories and characters out of my head.  I love, love, love the fairy tale aspects Meyer squeezes in.  It seems ridiculous to imagine a sci-fi/space version of Rapunzel, but Meyer does it perfectly.  I loved the other parts of the story just as much.  The fight against Queen Levana is engrossing and I love that all the stories weave together with characters from before, but also new perspectives and characters.  Pitch perfect and exciting enough to keep me wanting the next installment.  Which is apparently going to be the story of Queen Levana (Fairest)!

Things I Didn't Like:
Honestly, I'm not sure I can think of anything.  Except that I want the next book now!

Read-alikes:
Start with Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Some other fairy tale retellings, though this is pretty original

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe a handful

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fighting

Overall rating: *****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: March 2013
Pages: 352
Source: Purchased
For: Fun
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy, Book 2

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first book, The False Prince*

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?  

Things I Liked:
I'm still a fan of Jeron.  He's a character that is difficult to forget - brash, full of himself, but also full of heart and who wants to do what's best for everyone.  I liked the plot and the interesting places it took us.  I enjoyed the scenes with the pirates and found the conclusion of Jeron's difficulties interesting, if not entirely believable.  Overall, I enjoyed reading this installment, though not as much as the first book. (On a totally unrelated note, I bought this book when I met the author - she was super inspiring to hear speak, I think.  Really wonderful with the younger kids who came!)

Things I Didn't Like:
As I said, this one did not entertain nor surprise me quite as well as that first book did.  I thought some of the characters changes did not seem plausible.  Admittedly, it's been a while since I read this, so I'm not remembering all I felt, but I do remember being a bit disappointed.

Read-alikes:
A bit like Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some fighting

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage