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: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder Author: Marissa Meyer Series: The Lunar Chronicles Book 1 Published: Macmillan, 2012 Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: 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. . . . 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.

This book is insanely intriguing. It is another one of those books that comes very highly recommended. And it was not at all a letdown. As you may know Cinder is a fairy-tale retelling, a postmodern spin on the classic story of Cinderella where a poor and unloved girl meets and falls for a prince and they get married because the shoe fits. While reading the book I found myself comparing plot details to the all too familiar story it's based on. While the similarities are there, (the unloved girl treated as a servant, evil stepmother, charming prince, and celebratory ball to attend undercover) there were many more difference to the story where I was failing to find some basis in the original story (why do we also have an evil queen? Who's the fairy godmother? What's with that ending?). But the fact that it's not a point for point retelling is a testament to Marissa Meter and her storytelling. This is a completely new and refreshing take on the story.


And not only is this not your average fairytale and these were not the cliche fairytale characters you usually see. Cinder is not the damsel-in-distress that you're used to in fairytales. She's a tough and sarcastic mechanic who does not go all swoony around the prince. She was likable, relatable, and you wanted her to succeed and end up with the prince. But as usual in this case I loved the secondary characters. I loved Iko, the snarky android who did go all swoony around the prince and I especially liked Dr. Erland who has a dubious personality and a very cool character arc as the book goes on. I suspect he will have a bigger part as the series goes on. But I also really loved the villains if this story. Adri, the evil stepmother was incredibly vindictive and so easy to hate, but so was Queen Levana the heinous and scheming Lunar Queen who is so deliciously bad. I wasn't sure who I disliked more through most of the book. There were many more characters who walked the line between good and evil, and they were complicated and amazing to read about.

For me the best part of the book was the world-building. The creation of this world was executed beautifully. It s complicated and unique and we learn piece by piece about this future world including the technological aspects of it, and it's history. It's not a particularly fun world, with all its overpopulation, disease, and freaky robots, but it is interesting. I want to know everything about the world and was addicted almost from the gate. As far as the plot goes, it was interesting and compelling. It had much more mystery and political intrigue than I expected. I spent a lot of the book with "huh face." You know the face. Head slightly cocked, mouth agape, furrowed brow, and eyes looking around shiftily. I kept trying to solve all the clues and was often surprised by the numerous twists in the story.

But as great as the plot was, I still wish it had a little more heft to it. I've said it before but first books in a series always seem to serve the purpose of creating and explaining the world and laying the groundwork for more exciting things that won't happen till the last book. That's how I felt about Cinder. Even the big twists felt like they were building up to tell you something that won't be significant till the series is over. This point is best articulated by the ending. We are left learning important information and the characters are in a position where they can't do anything about it. It's this weird situation where it's not exactly a cliffhanger but it isn't a satisfying ending. That being said, I can't wait to keep reading this series. I want to know everything and see how this series develops. I have the feeling it is just going to get better as it goes on and I cannot wait for the big payoff.

 I give Cinder by Marissa Meyer 8.5 out of 10
 

If you're in the minority if people who have not already read this series, there are still a few seats on the bandwagon for you so jump aboard! You should especially check it out if you enjoy fairytale retellings, science fiction, or books with unique worlds and interesting characters. What are your thoughts on Cinder? Leave me a comment and 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!