Saven Denial (Saven #2.5) by Siobhan Davis

Saven Denial (Saven #2.5)
by Siobhan Davis

ebook, 1st Edition

Published May 21st 2016 by Siobhan Davis

THE TRUTH HURTS 

My mother was right to fear me. 

I’m an abomination. 

And the world should be very afraid. 

Sadie has been kidnapped by the Tor, the vindictive alien race who destroyed Thalassic City. As her past, present, and future collides, her worst nightmare looks set to become her shocking new reality. 

A deliberate pawn in leader Griselda’s vengeful game, Sadie is horrified to learn the truth about her heritage and the destiny that’s already been mapped out for her. Refusing to cooperate, she risks paying the ultimate price for her defiance. 

Love for Logan is her only motivation to stay alive. Saving him is the only thing that matters—the fate of the world depends upon it. While he may never forgive her, she’s determined to protect him. Until her dying breath. 

Note from the author: 

This continues the story from where it ended in Saven Disclosure. This is not an optional novella but an essential read if you don't want to miss out on important plot developments. Please note there is a cliffhanger and it is not a standalone story. You will need to continue the series to find out what is next in store for Sadie and Logan.

So so good! I don't think I have ever enjoyed a novella for a series as much as I enjoyed this one.

This novella was very fast paced. At times I had forgotten that this was a novella and not a full length novel. Of course, I remembered when it was over way too quickly, and left me wanting more.

Denial begins where Disclosure (book two) left off. Which was perfect because Disclosure ended on a cliffhanger. And we all have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers; they keep you in suspense, but sometimes, as in this case, the suspense is just too much! Thankfully, I got my hands on this novella so some of my unanswered questions could be resolved. 

As the synopsis above states, this is a novella, but it is one you should definitely read if you are continuing on with teh series. A lot of times, novellas serve as just an optional read if you want a little more insight. This novella, however, is so much more than that.

The synopsis also warns readers that there is yet another cliffhanger, and it is a pretty fantastic cliffhanger at that.

So, if you haven't yet read any of the Saven series, you really should. It has everything you could want in a series, including aliens (a personal favorite of mine :D).

5 out of 5

ARC Review: The Body Institute by Carol Riggs

**E-copy ARC received courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

The Body Institute by Carol Riggs
Paperback
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Entangled: Teen

Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute. 

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl’s body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body—leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches…

For one, Morgan won’t remember what happens in her “Loaner” body. Once she’s done, she won’t recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she’s been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it’s all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start…

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan’s mind. She’s feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti–Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she’ll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul…

Every time I read a dystopian novel I tend to feel grateful for the world I live in, despite all the horrible things going on, because the world I just finished reading about is usually a whole lot worse off. It also tends to frighten me a bit because the future is unknown and I do not want to live in a world that has annual events that pit children against one another to fight to the death, or a world where I am trapped in a god awful maze or have a disease that turns people into zombies that chase me down the street trying to eat my brain. 

Despite how frightening it is to picture any of those scenarios, the scene this novel sets is perhaps the most frightening because I personally feel it is not something completely unbelievable. The Body Institute is science fiction and dystopia at its finest. A world were people are taxed for being overweight and shamed for their appearance because of being overweight is not that hard to imagine. In real society today people are made to feel bad about how they look. The media portrays beauty as being model thin, or having fair skin, etc. This portrayal makes everyone who does not look like the women they call beautiful to feel self conscious, to hate their bodies, and some go to extreme measures to live up to what they believe are the world's expectations of themselves. The extreme measure in this novel was going to the Body Institute to become a Loaner.

A Loaner allows another person, a Reducer, to pretty much take over their body through mind-swapping technology. The Reducer's body lies in suspended animation while they inhabit the Loaner's body and their job is to get the Loaner into shape. It is kind of a freaky concept really. While it seems like its for the betterment of humans, getting into shape means living a healthy life, it also brings about some ethical issues which brings us to those who oppose the Body Institute. Just like those who would go to extreme measures to meet society's standards, those opposed to the institute also go to extremes.

Our protagonist Morgan is very fit and in shape. However, because her grandfather has collected quite a hefty amount of debt, her family is struggling financially. This financial struggle is what leads Morgan to enroll in the Reducer program as credits are rewarded to those who help the cause. After her first assignment, Morgan is given another which could eliminate her family's debt completely, so naturally she finds it impossible to turn down. Well, a TON of stuff goes down once she takes her second assignment. Protesters go too far, lines between who is wrong and right become blurred, and we see how awful Morgan's Loaner body was treated by others because of her heaviness.

This book had me hooked. It was amazing in every way. The writing was wonderful, the characters relatable and the romance just right. There were so many times I was caught off guard by what was happening which is exactly why I loved it. 

The Body Institute was more than just a novel. It showed a harsh reality as well. People are treated differently because of how they look and it is very unfair. If we continue on our judgmental path, a future like the one in this novel, where people are cruelly treated and cast out of society for being overweight, may not be too far away. Appearances are only part of who we are, we are much more than what we look like and that is what I believe was the moral of this novel and why I would recommend it to everyone.

5 out of 5

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ARC Review: Destiny Rising (True Calling #3) by Siobhan Davis

**I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review**

Destiny Rising by Siobhan Davis
ebook
Expected publication: August 30th 2015

EVERY CHOICE HAS A CONSEQUENCE

The final book in the captivating True Calling series.

Once again, the world is on the brink of momentous change. As revolutionary organization Saoirse prepares to battle the government for control of Earth and Novo, Ariana and those she loves must join humanity’s fight for justice and freedom.

As haunted memories resurface, old discoveries and new realities conspire to shatter her world forever. 

Torn in one direction by her unique connection to childhood sweetheart Zane, and pulled in the other by a relentless passion for her fiery fiancé Cal, she must make the hardest decision of all. While embarking on a road to self-discovery, her psychic gift evolves and the full extent of her powerful ability is revealed.

Then fate lands another savage blow and she faces the most horrific choice of all. Forced into striking a deal with the enemy, she must make the ultimate personal sacrifice or risk everything she holds dear.

When destiny finally rears its head, what will the future hold? 

I cannot put my love for Siobhan Davis' True Calling series into words. I fell in love with the characters, the world and everything that makes this series unique when I read the first page of the first book. I would like to thank the author for providing me with ARCs and allowing me to participate in her blog tours as well as the Novo Squad.

So much happened in this book! It took me awhile to wrap my mind around everything. It was full of surprises and always had me on the edge of my seat. Packing a lot into one book usually results in the book coming across as rushed and sloppy, but Davis was able to pack all the action in beautifully! Not once did anything feel rushed or forced, and everything that was occurring had an important role in the plot, nothing was filler.

I loved how the story alternated between the perspectives of Cal, Ari and Zane. I have to say though, I was never a big fan of Cal's hate to say his sections did not make me like him any better. He is very hotheaded, which I understand is not entirely his fault but I cannot seem to get over how much of a jerk he is at times. Also, I know he is a teenage boy but come on, he had been separated from the love of his life for awhile and finds out she is missing and practically the first thing that comes to his mind is how big her breasts have gotten. Really Cal??

Being the final book in the series, it is inevitable that Ari has to finally decide if she wants to be with her new love Cal or her first love Zane. And her decision broke some hearts, including mine. But that's all I will say on that.

Ari herself grows a lot as a character in this book which is great. In order for a book to be considered good, in my opinion, there has to be character development. Ari can be stubborn but she really grows and matures, her situation and life kind of forces her to. She learns to use and control her psychic powers which are pretty awesome and created some amazing scenes in the book. 

This book was such an emotional roller coaster. It tugs at your heart strings and messes with your feelings but it is so wonderful. The writing is brilliant and flows wonderfully. There is never a dull moment so you never want to put the book down (I know I didn't want to). Davis brings the series to a close with an epilogue that ties everything together perfectly. While I was saddened that my choice in the love triangle lost out, I think he does pretty well for himself in the end. The True Calling series was a fantastic ride to experience. Along the way some beloved friends were lost, hearts were broken, secrets were revealed, and chaos ensued, but in the end everything worked out. I look forward to more by Davis as she easily made this one of my favorite series and I cannot do anything but expect more great stories from her.

5 out of 5

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A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) 
by Sarah J. Maas
Paperback, 416 pages
Published May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury Children's

The breathtaking start to a seductive high-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author of Throne of Glass series.

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

"Against slavery, against tyranny, I would gladly go to my death, no matter whose freedom I was defending."

Sarah J Maas' books have become extremely popular so I thought it was about time I read one of her books and see what all the hype was about. Now, the hype is not the reason why I wanted to read Maas' books; I had been interested since Throne of Glass was released, I had just not gotten around to reading anything by her. I chose A Court of Thorns and Roses as my first Maas book because of the subject matter: faeries.


Fairytales are said to be forever, timeless stories filled with magic. However, updating and changing up the classic tales we all grew up with has become very common in the book world. It seems everywhere you turn, there's a retelling of some fairytale and I personally find these retelling to be utterly fantastic and just as timeless. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, manages to maintain the main themes of Beauty and the Beast while adding a mesmerizing journey with faeries, both good and bad, suspense, and some rather steamy romantic scenes. I must add that until said steamy scenes arose, it completely slipped my mind that this was a New Adult novel; I was quite shocked for a moment but quickly got over the shock once my brain started working again and remembered this was not a YA novel so all was good, no big deal. 

Our heroine is Feyre, a young woman whose family took a turn down poverty lane when her father lost all the family's fortune. Her mother also died and Feyre made a promise to her that she would protect and take care of her father and two elder sisters. Feyre feels very bound to the oath she made her mother, which is very admirable but also, I felt her desire to keep this promise just complicated things for herself. Also, her family kind of just uses her. By that I mean, she is the breadwinner of the family and her sisters always want the money she earns for their own selfish wants. However, as the book came to an end, I actually grew to kind of like her sisters, even respect them, especially Nesta. Feyre has become a huntress to feed her family and it is a hunt that sets the story into motion.

It is really hard for me to talk more about the book without revealing too much so I will give a few more brief thoughts on the book and characters. Feyre is stubborn but courageous. Unlike Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Feyre does not find sanctuary in reading, mostly due to the fact that she cannot read. However, she does find comfort in painting, which she does quite a lot. 

Now the "beast" of our story is Tamlin, a fey of the Spring Court of Prythian. Tamlin is charming and very protective. Despite being our "beast", he's not terrible looking. Of course, faeries are generally described as beautiful and irresistible creatures. We get the impression this is the case for Tamlin but we do not really know what his face fully looks like due to a kind of curse that has left the Spring Court all stuck wearing masquerade masks. I will not go into that because of spoilers. However, there is also a beastly element to Tamlin as he can turn into a wolf. 

Tamlin has a close friend named Lucien. He lived with him in the Spring Court and I liked him because he added humor to the otherwise humorless story. I was also pleased that he was not romantically interested in Feyre; love triangles have the potential to kill books in my opinion.

The romance...well, I was glad that it was not an insta-love type of thing. There was some build up. In fact, Feyre absolutely hated Tamlin at first and thought of killing him so that as far from insta-love as you can possibly get. They fought quite often but their relationship evolved and they lusted for each other as the story went on. I have to admit, I do not feel fully invested in their relationship. Feyre went from hating him to lusting for him which to me is not love, maybe more of a strong infatuation.  

This was not the most epic book ever, but it was very good and I enjoyed it. The world building was great and I loved learning about the fey and the history of Prythian. If I had enjoyed the actual romance more, I probably would have kept the rating at 5 stars, but after writing this review, I feel 4 stars is a better rating. I also felt it was a tad slow at parts but it definitely picked up towards the last bit where the action starts. 

“I love you,’ he whispered, and kissed my brow. ‘Thorns and all.”   

4 out of 5

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Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
Hardcover, 328 pages
Published October 14th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion 

Princess Snow is missing.

Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.

Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.

When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival. 

“Brave is being scared and doing what needs to be done anyway”   

The first thing I need to say is this: people have compared this book a lot to Marissa Meyer's Cinder and while there are similarities such as the science fiction setting and a few other elements, Stitching Snow is not a rip off; it has its uniqueness and was utterly fantastic. It needs to be acknowledged that fairy tale retellings are bound to have similar themes and elements, there is no way to really escape that. 

Essie has built a life for herself on the planet Thanda, a planet of miners. However, the life Essie built for herself on Thanda does not involve mining, at least, not her mining physically herself. She is sort of a tech genius - she works on the drones in the mines and even helps repair a ship that crashes nearby. She has seven drones (get it, seven drones...Snow White retelling... ;)) all with adorably appropriate names (Dimwit being my favorite of the drones). Essie is also a kick butt heroine. To make extra cash, she fights the male miners in cage fights, and she nearly always wins. This is something I loved about Essie: she was spunky, had a mind of her own and knew how to take care of herself. She was not just some helpless damsel who let others protect her; no, she knew how to protect herself.

With the crashing ship I mentioned previously comes along Dane. I have to say, he just might be my favorite YA guy ever. He is so protective of Essie. Of course, there was some rough patches with this relationship (isn't there always?) and I cannot really go into detail about anything without giving spoilers but I will say that I feel everything that happened on both sides was justifiable given the circumstances and the hell that was breaking loose as the story went on.

Also, there was no love triangle!! I was so glad! The romance was so swoon worthy but did not detract from the main plot which was wonderful. I have a love/hate relationship with love triangles. Sometimes I am alright with them and can even see how they play an important role in the plot of a story. Though, a majority of the time I cannot stand love triangles especially when they add unnecessary drama and contribute nothing to the plot of the story. It was such a relief to not have to deal with that in this book because it would have completely ruined the story for me. Also, the romance was not insta-love, which is also a plus. 

The writing style was good and the story very fast paced. I was hooked from page one. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings. But also, for those of you who love Cinder, just as I did, don't sit there comparing the two. There are similarities yes but Stitching Snow is its own story and is up there among my favorites whihc also includes Cinder.

5 out of 5

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Very Good Lives by J. K. Rowling

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination by J.K. Rowling
Hardcover, 80 pages 
Published April 14th 2015 by Little, Brown and Company 

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?  
Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force.

“It expresses, in part, our inescapable connection with the outside world, the fact that we touch other people's lives simply by existing.” 

Normally, the idea of spending $16 on a book this tiny that I could just read in the store in about five minutes would sound absurd to me and I would not do it, but its J. K. Rowling so of course I made an exception.

This was such a wonderful speech, and I expected as much from the queen herself. It really touched me and I can see myself reading this a hundred times over so I can justify the money spent on it.

Being in my last year of college, I fear the road ahead. It is terrifying to think about the future, of what is going to happen once I graduate especially because as an English major, I have been asked repeatedly, "What can you do with that? Are you going to teach?" The answer to the second question is no; I do not want to teach but rather be involved in the publishing world. The skepticism thrown my way has been rather disheartening, and the pressure to do something productive with my life has been building up. 

I read this speech during a time when I was beginning to seriously question and doubt everything about my life. All the fears and anxieties built up inside me were getting to be too much for me to handle. But this speech changed everything. 

Now, being a huge fan of J. K. Rowling, it may seem a tad bias to say that this speech had such a major effect on me because nearly everyone I have ever met in the book community have said that J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series have changed their lives, made them fall in love with reading, etc. And I am not afraid to admit, I am one of those people who says that as well. But this is not about just being a fan of an author; contrary to belief, one is not required to love every single idea that a particular author pens down. Rowling writing this speech is not what makes it special or so inspiring, it is the message she gets across.

After reading this speech, I felt better about all the things that had been causing me sleepless nights and endless worry. It gave me motivation I have been until recently been lacking, and high hopes for my future. I would recommend this to anybody; not just those who are graduating or soon to be graduating college. Its message is meant for everybody.It is beautifully written and the book itself is beautiful as well.

“You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.” 

5 out of 5

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Beyond Reach (True Calling #2) by Siobhan Davis

Beyond Reach by Siobhan Davis
Published April 30th 2015
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Back on Earth, Ariana is caught in a dangerous crossfire between clandestine rebel organization Clementia and the power-hungry government. Refusing to divulge the location of the secret information entrusted to her by her late father, she desperately tries to bargain for her Mom, Lily, and Cal’s rescue. She’s fighting a losing battle, and the clock is ticking.

Presented with evidence of her fiancé Cal’s apparent betrayal, she loyally defends him despite her concerns. With her emotions in turmoil, matters become even more complicated as she grows closer to her ex-boyfriend Zane.

When the stakes are raised, a succession of shocking revelations rocks her world, setting her on a path that will not only change her destiny but the fate of humanity.

Confronted by a memory so abhorrent comes a truth she would do anything to forget.

But some things just can’t be undone.

“Everything changed the moment I found you. I changed.”

It’s been so long since I’ve been this emotionally invested in a book/series. I cannot wait for the next book especially because that ending…cliff hanger!

I had thought the first book True Calling was pretty great, Beyond Reach was even more amazing. I would first like to thank NetGalley for approving me to receive this ebook ahead of its release, and would also like to thank the author Siobhan Davis herself for being in contact with me.

One of the things I really love about this series is the characters. It is impossible not to feel the pain, love and longing radiating from Zane. He continues to protect Ari and care for her even when it pains him to do so, even when he knows his feelings for her may be unrequited. Ari herself is just a jumble of emotions: she loves Cal, but at the same time, she cannot deny the feelings stirring inside her whenever she is with Zane; she may not remember being in love with Zane before her move to Nova, but the connection they had is still there even if the memories are not. Cal…I have always been a bit skeptical about him. Sometimes I like him, other times not-so-much. This is why I never like love triangles; I almost feel like I am the one caught in the middle of the two, trying to decide which guy I want to be with – its too much for a girl to handle, especially Ari who has other things she needs to deal with. However, Davis makes the love triangle work in this series. In other series, it feels as though love triangles are just thrown in for the heck of it, not really there to serve any real purpose to the plot but Davis does not do that, and that is really quite refreshing.

I could talk about this book/series forever; I have grown so attached to the characters and their story but if I were to keep talking, I would probably end up spoiling something which I really do not want to do. This second installment is fast-paced and heart wrenching. It is full of so many twists and turns, some you may see coming but also others that are like a huge slap in the face, completely unexpected. The world building was fantastic and I loved how we got to see more of what was happening down on Earth.

The only complaint I have is the ending – the huge, massive cliff hanger. I complain because I am dying to know what happens next and the thought of waiting for the next book is dreadful. However, it was a perfect place to stop because there’s no way someone can read that ending and decide, “I don’t want to read the next book.” This series has a little bit of everything and I highly recommend it.

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Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)

by Stephanie Perkins

Hardcover, 339 pages

Published August 14th 2014 

Rating:

Synopsis:

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last? 

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. 

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

“There's no story,' I say. 'I saw you one day, and I just knew.”

Stephanie Perkins has a way of capturing the everyday miracles and magic in life on the page. Her writing gives off an amazing energy. Powerful and lovely. In this novel, she nails how it feels to have a crush perfectly. Not just any crush either, but one that builds and simmers and just explodes. It left me breathless. This story felt so magical, but also so real. Strong characters are those that display insecurities, patience, pain and love; things evident in human nature, things that we the readers also feel. Reading Isla and the Happily Ever After, or in fact, any of Perkins books, I feel as though I know the characters and can connect to them. They go through experiences that are relatable for the average human, not just a teen with a crush.

Isla and Josh are complete opposites. Where she is soft spoken, shy and rather predictable he is careless and outspoken. She lives in a black and white world but he brings color into it, inspiring her to take risks. Isla has been in love with Josh basically since she first met him. She doesn't really talk to him all the often, or really, at all. They have one "meaningful" encounter a year, which is actually more or less awkward and embarrassing. But she has it bad for this boy. Cyber-stalking bad. While that may sound a tad creepy, what teenage girl in modern times can honestly say they've never looked up their crush via any social media site at least once? The fact that Josh's father is a senator who is running for re-election in the states makes it all the easier for her to find stuff about him online. A few times I got angry with Isla, because she allowed her insecurities to get the best of her and she had quite the freak out that made me want to strangle her. But then, while I was mad, I could understand her reaction and could honestly kind of relate to how she felt.

As the book progresses, Isla and Josh's story made my heart melt, do flips, and drop. Doesn't sound healthy right? But it's a story that sends your emotions on a roller coaster. It's sweet, heart-warming, heart-breaking, etc. And to be perfectly honest, I normally try to avoid gushy books like this some would deem as "girly"; not because I do not love a good love story, but the stories always seem so perfect and fake, like the authors dream up scenarios that really could not happen in real life. However, Perkins, as I said before, is an exception as her stories are also perfect, but in a different way.

I was hooked on this book. I devoured it in one sitting. Three hours was all I needed to learn Isla and Josh's story. Three seconds to fall in love with it. It was also nice to see characters from the previous novels and how their lives are going. Books get so over-hyped, but I feel as though this is a book that actually deserves the hype. It is not always easy to find a series, or book, that one can connect with. Too many books have characters that honestly, readers do not give a crap about: they are annoying, irritating, WHINY, all traits that could be overlooked if the character grows and changes. Oftentimes though, the character does not change, therefore, neither do the feelings of dislike or indifference towards them. Isla went from a insecure, cyberstalking, no-risk-taker, to someone you can admire and love. Character development. 

This book made me all bubbly and warm, which is embarrassing to admit, but true. It goes by fast; one minute you are 10 pages in, the next, you are ten pages from the end. And when it ends, you want more. I highly recommend this book, in case that was not obvious. ♥

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)

by Marissa Meyer

Hardcover, 550 pages

Published February 4th 2014 

Rating:



Synopsis:

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, 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.

“You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary.” She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. “So I’m going to Luna, and I’m going to start a revolution.” 

When I first began The Lunar Chronicles, I was sort of late jumping on the bandwagon. I had heard so many good things about Cinder, and the book was always jumping out in front of me at the library, begging to be read. For a long time, I ignored the book, thinking that all this hype was just that: hype. Looking back now, I remember I keep picking up the book thinking that there was no way it could live up to all the hype it was getting, and I did not want to be let down by another book that was supposed to be amazing.

However, when I finally read it, I fell in love. Scarlet was great as well, but not as amazing. Now I have made it to the third book and have to say, it was pretty amazing. Would not have given it five stars if I thought otherwise now would I?

The novel begins with Cinder, Thorne, Scarlet, Wolf, and Iko on a mission to rescue Cress from her satellite. Naturally, things go horribly wrong, causing them to separate. This was a huge plus to me because it was a way for the reader to get to know each individual character in a more intimate manner. I will not go in to much detail about who gets separated with who and where they all go, you will have to read to find that out. 

Cinder struggles with decisions that she had made on the satellite; decisions that ultimately led to unfortunate outcomes for both Scarlet and Wolf. She begins to doubt herself. Can she really lead people and start a rebellion? Should she just keep hiding from Levana, and give up completely? She tends to second guess herself a lot throughout the novel, weighing the consequences of her options and choices, and how they will affect others.

Cress was a strong third installment to this series. So much craziness was going on! Readers will never face a dull moment with this book. I am left both amazed and impressed with Cress. This series gets better and better with each book. Plus, the whole incorporation of fairy tales is wonderful. Meyer takes a delightful twist on everyone's favorite fairy tales. I suggest this book to everyone who loves a good retelling, or sci-fi. novel