On Rereads: Science Fiction Series Ending in November and December

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

I wanted to reread six books in October which was a little optimistic although I did reread five in November! What! I mean I didn't read as many new books but that's cool. I got to reread The Lunar Chronicles and the Starbound Trilogy by the end of the month. The fact that I had a drive to Upstate to New York to see my family for Thanksgiving definitely helped with that. I could have squeezed in a book I hadn't read but I didn't want to and these next two months that's what I want to do. But here is my thoughts on the audiobooks for....

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Cinder -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Scarlet  -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Cress -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I was both excited and nervous for the final book in this series, Winter, to come out. I'm such a fan of this series. It is one of my all-time favorite retellings, not to mention an all-around science fiction series with amazing characters and a thrilling plot. So with the final book coming out I had to marathon the whole series to refresh my memory and also experience it all together.

Once again, I really felt like this is a series that gets better and better as it goes on. Rereading it you can see how good Marissa Meyer's plotting is. Things mentioned in the first book come back in a big way in the third and final book. I was so glad I reread it too because I forgot so many details, especially in Scarlet. Plus I got to once again fall in love with these characters and swoon at the romantic moment.

But what I really liked about this reread was the audio. Rebecca Soler, the narrator does an absolutely brilliant job bringing these characters to life. She got Cinder's snark down perfectly, plus Thorne's charm, Scarlet's toughness and French accent, and Cress' awkwardness. Plus her Iko was just so spot on. I loved it so much that when I was reading Winter, I missed the audio and downloaded it so that I could listen to it too. Her Winter (the character) narration? Brilliant!

The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
This Shattered World - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

This series, ugh, you guys. I'm so obsessed. It might be my all-time favorite YA Science Fiction novel. It's so freaking amazing. These Broken Stars was one of my favorite reads of 2014 and I was a little nervous about rereading because what I loved so much about it was the mystery and the crazy plot twist but it was just as brilliant and emotional the second time around. That is the mark of a great read if you ask me. Then with This Shattered World, I wasn't totally blown away the first time I loved it. Honestly, the second time it was even better. Reading them back to back I was able to understand more and see more connections which made it so fantastic.

I also really loved these audiobooks. I like they have different narrators for the different perspectives and I think they captured the mystery and adventure with this series. I particularly enjoyed Jonathan McClain who narrated for Tarver, who I think captured his humor and fun personality, as well as Donnabella Mortel who narrated for Lee Chase in This Shattered World because she captured her toughness and vulnerability.

Now I am ready for Their Fractured Light, the last book in the series. I'm as usual excited and nervous about how it all end but I totally trust Aime and Meg to bring the feels and the mindblowing twists. Marissa Meyers totally did in Winter. These are both great Science Fiction series. I would definitely recommend them if you haven't read them yet.

Have you read the The Lunar Chronicles or the Starbound trilogy? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclussions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cress Series: The Lunar Chronicles Book 3 Author: Marissa Meyer Published: February, 2014 by Macmillan Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only 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 goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

This series keeps getting better. It's such a fantastic and interesting Science Fiction series with interesting characters, a creative world, and lots of action and adventure.

First and foremost, the best part of this series is the characters and this book didn't let us down with our old favorites and some awesome new characters. Cinder and Iko were back and fantastic! Iko had some great parts in this book that made me laugh. We also got to catch back up with Dr. Erland who I found so interesting in Cinder. We also got to spend a lot more time with the wonderful Captain Thorne. I liked him in Scarlet but I LOVE him in Cress. He is still his hilarious and sarcastic lovable roguish self but he is also a delightful romantic lead. He made me laugh, he made me swoon, he was WONDERFUL! Then we have our new characters. Most notably we have the title character Cress, who is just adorable. She's energetic, easy-going, and this badass hacker who has a great character development throughout the book. We also get to spend more time with Jacin Clay (do you say it like Jason or like Jake?) who is a Lunar guard. He is so intriguing to me and I'm not exactly sure where his allegiance lies and why he does the things he does. I'm excited to learn more about him in Winter. I am also excited to learn more about Princess Winter. We get to meet her in Cress and she is totally cuckoo. I know she is going to be absolutely hilarious and I love the dynamic between her and Scarlet.

My other favorite thing about this book was the romance. The two relationships that were introduced to in the previous books were there growing and developing but the real romance was between Thorne and Cress. I absolutely loved them together. They seem to have the most solid relationship. They both really cared for one another and needed one another. It wasn't at all insta-lovey and grew deeper and more serious as time went on and they spent more time together. Their romance made me swoon and smile throughout the entire book. But all the relationships are great, whether they are romantic and otherwise. There is so much witty banter and great friendships developing in this team of unlikely heroes.

And just like the previous books the world-building continues to be subtle and interesting. We are never overwhelmed by details about this interesting and unique future society. What I liked about Cress is that as the series starts winding down we get more questions answered than asked. I love a big reveal and there is more than one in this book. Part of what is built into this world and what makes it really different is the post-modern princess idea. Marissa Meyer always plays with the classic fairy tale stories that serve as the basis and adds a Sci Fi twist. I am not as familiar with the Rapunzel story as I am with the previous two but the moments that I did recognize were so creative they made me smile and laugh. But postmodern princesses also flip the damsel in distress trope on its head. These are some strong female characters and despite the romances they develop, they don't need a man to save the say. Even Cress who is a self-proclaimed D. I. D. turns that idea around and is a hero.

As far as the plot goes, we continued to build on the story that was previously begun in the first two books in the series. And while it does have the independent story of Cress, it didn't feel as much like its own entity like Scarlet did. It felt more like Cress' part in the larger story of Cinder.  There were also so pacing issues for me as the books started out strong with lots of action and then devolved into another travel montage that you know I'm not a fan of. That being said there was so much more action and mystery in Cress than either of the two books and when things did escalate they did so quickly and were incredibly thrilling. I spent most of the last 100 pages of the book with my mouth agape shouting "NO!NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Things took a very dramatic turn in this book and I cannot wait to read Winter and see how this series goes.

I give Cress a 9 out of 10

I definitely recommend reading if you like Science Fiction, Fairy Tale Retellings, or for books with lots of humor and romance. Have you read Cress? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and of course... HAPPY READING!

February TBR - Anti-Love Stories

February is the month of Valentine's Day where we celebrate love and romance. Because of this fact our stores are inundated with flowers, hearts, and chocolate. Television is full of sappy movies and shows about love. And everyone is thinking about romance. Now don't get me wrong, I love romance as much as the next person, but I also believe in the natural balance of the universe so I'm working to achieve dharma by reading books with complicated love stories. Maybe they have to fight against all odds to be with their love, maybe love makes their life more difficult, maybe they end up married to the person they don't love, or maybe they realize love isn't all it's cracked up to be. Is it weird that I'm excited about how depressing these books are going to be?

The Classic

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

How it Fits the Theme: The main character is expected to marry quickly but she wants to marry for love. Too bad the man she loves is cruel and dubious at best. I started this book years ago and then life (college) got in the way. I'm taking the opportunity to dust it off and finish it this month

  The Recent Adult Novel

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz

How it Fits the Theme: The title says it all.  This is a book that interweaves a bunch of anti-love stories together and is the best example of what I'm trying to read this month. I read The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao a long time ago and I love Junot Diaz's writing style so I'm excited to read another of his books.

 

 

The Standalones

Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick

How it Fits the Theme: After reading the description and with my knowledge of the history of this time period I can predict the ending and it fits, which is perfect because I got an ARC from Netgalley and it comes out at the end of the month. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and it's going to take a lot of self-control not to start it immediately.

A Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

How it Fits the Theme: So maybe it doesn't. The reviews I've seen lead me to believe it's of a more traditional romance. I just really want to read it. I've heard great things from people who aren't even fans of historical fiction (which I am) so I am very much expecting to enjoy this book. 

 

The Series

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

How it Fits the Theme: I know there are some spectacularly enjoyable ships in this series but there are also a lot of we can't be together because we're too different kind of scenarios. Basically I'm making it work because I want to read this series. It comes very highly recommended and Cress comes out in just a few days!

What are you planning on reading in February? Have you read any of these books? Do they fit my theme of complicated love stories for the month? Leave me a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for the reviews and HAPPY READING!