Book Review: Winter

Title: Winter

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: November 10, 2015

Source: Purchased

Add it to Goodreads

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?

Soundtrack Saturday (2)

Soundtrack Saturday is a book meme that I created so I can share my picks for some songs that I think of when I'm reading a book.

I'll be completely honest here. I think of music all the time when I'm reading. I just love imagining a certain song that fits a moment in a book. Or I think of a song that suits a character. It's kind of my thing.

It's pretty simple to participate in Soundtrack Saturday, and you only need to think of four songs each week to go along with a book you're reading or have read. Trust me on this one. It's easier to use a book you've read recently.

Guidelines:

• You can use my image or make one of your own
• Please link back to my blog somewhere in your post
• Create a soundtrack for your chosen book
• Add your name to the link-up tool so others can find and read your post
• Have fun

Songs:

• Include a song that you think goes well with the beginning of your chosen book
• Include a song you think fits a character in your chosen book
• Include a song that represents a relationship in your chosen book
• Include a song that fits the ending of the book

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. On Wednesdays, we (as readers) shine the spotlight on an upcoming release or two that we can't wait to get our hands on.

My pick for this week is probably not a surprise to anyone who frequently reads my blog posts. I've fallen in love with The Lunar Chronicles, so the book I am waiting on this week is Fairest by Marissa Meyer.

Fairest is scheduled to be released on January 27, 2015, so there is still some time left for me to wait. I can't wait to learn more about Queen Levana because I can't help but think that a lot of the story is missing.

I have so many questions. How did Levana come to be so cruel? What was Cinder's mother like? How is Winter treated? And most importantly... How did people come to live on the moon? But I am really excited for the full-color art. How freaking awesome is that going to be?

Synopsis:
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.

 

So what are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments or leave a link to your post.

Review: Cress

Title: Cress

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: February 4, 2014

Source: Purchased 

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.

My Review

 

Oh my stars!

I have to start my review off by stating that the third book in The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer is, in my opinion, the best one yet! I can only hope (and I truly expect) that more amazing things are on the way in Fairest and Winter.

Once again, Meyer's stellar use of dramatic irony had me hooked. I did not want to put this book down! I couldn't wait to see what happened when the characters found out information that I already knew. It was almost addictive to keep reading just for their reactions.

The newest main character, Cress, is by far the most adorable naive character I've ever come across in a YA book. Her story is so captivating and entertaining. I wouldn't have cared if Meyer wrote over a thousand pages for this book. I would have read it just to learn more about Cress because she is just that cute and quirky.

I also love how Meyer perfectly entwines Cress' story with those of the other characters, like Cinder, Thorne, Scarlet, Wolf, and Kai. It was wonderful to see how she was connected to them and how she can work with them. I truly hope that we see Cress grow and mature a little more in the next book like we've seen Cinder grow since the beginning of the series.

Now... the ending! I'm so happy. I loved the ending. It was the perfect cliffhanger, and I've been waiting for Cinder to say those words since the end of Cinder. I'm so glad that she is finally confident enough to reveal her secrets, and I cannot wait to see how this unlikely group of heroes will use that to their advantage in Winter.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading (5)

Alright, everyone. It's Monday, so it's time for another edition of "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" The meme is hosted by BookJourney. Each Monday, you get to share the book or books that you are today and during the rest of the week.


It's a holiday in the United States, so it's been a pretty laid back day here, and I've read just a little bit so far, but I plan on doing more reading as the day turns into the evening.

Last week, I was reading Cress by Marissa Meyer, and I'm still working on reading it. It's a pretty long book, and I've just been so busy that I haven't had a chance to finish it. It'll actually be the longest book I've read this year until I finish another one that I'm reading. I really hope I'll finish it by the end of the night. Right now, I only have about two hundred pages to go. So it's very possible that I wind up finishing it before the day is over.

I'm also reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I have a hardcover of it, and it's just so big that I don't take it from place to place, so I read a little bit before bed. I've kind of been neglecting it for a few days, but I'm going to make it a point to keep reading it because I'm enjoying it.

This week, I'm also going to start reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. I just got it in the mail last week, and I've been dying to get my fingers between the pages. I need to know what happens with these two new characters. And I need to finish it so I can move on to Isla and the Happily Ever After. 

So that's what I'm reading this week. What are you reading this week? As always, feel free to leave a comment, and I'll be sure to reply. And feel more than welcome to leave a link to your post for the week so I can drop by and check it out.

Happy reading!

August 2014 Wrap-Up

Okay, so August is officially over, and September is here. It's Labor Day here in the United States, so it's the unofficial end to summer. The pools close, and everyone is back to school. But to remember the true meaning behind the holiday... Labor Day is really about the celebration of the American Labor Movement. I'm a firm believer in labor unions. They built this country that I love, and I'm very proud that they protect their workers. I'm also very proud to have grown up in a family with many ties to many labor unions in the area.

This is the start of one of the most beautiful parts of the year. The sun casts a certain kind of light in the mornings and evenings that I just find to be so completely beautiful. The leaves will begin to change. The air is crisp and has a cool bite to it, and the scents of fall are amazing! Apples, pumpkins, cinnamon. I just can't get over it, and so much of it really begins to change in September.

Late August and September also mean that it is back to school time, and for me (at the moment), it is back to work time. As a sub, more and more work days will become available at the end of September.

But before I say hello to September, I need to say goodbye to August. A lot of good things happened this August for me both personally and for my reading and the blog.

I turned twenty-five. I still don't know how I feel about this because I feel like I should be married or at least in a serious relationship by now. Oh well. I also babysat a lot, and made some money that I wouldn't have made, so that was fun. Exhausting, but fun.

I was asked to review quite a few books. I won quite a few books, and my blog really started to pick up this month, so I want to thank each and every one of you who reads my posts and takes the time to comment. It means the world to me. Also, the six Liebster Awards that I've won make me extremely happy. An extra special thanks goes to all who nominated me. I also bought a lot of books in August. Check the book haul and Stacking the Shelves posts if you're interested in seeing what I bought.

Now for my August Wrap-Up

Books that I read:

• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - I didn't really enjoy this book, despite all of the praise I've seen for it. You can view my full review if you haven't seen it yet.
• Mister Teacher Person by J.M. Varner - Jason and I had a few college classes together, and we recently found one another on Goodreads. He asked me to read and review an ARC of his book, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. My review is spoiler-free for those of you who would like to read it. P.S. It is for free this week for Kindle. You should go check it out.
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I think everyone who reads my blog knows that I am binge-reading the released books in this series. My full review can be found here.
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - Shortly after finishing my ARCs and Cinder, I read Scarlet. I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Cinder, but it was very cute and adventurous. My review can be seen here if you'd like to read it.
• The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson - Surprisingly, this is the only book the twins have asked me to read to them while I've been babysitting them this month. When I worked as an after-school care assistant at their preschool, they were always asking me to read to them. Anyways, the book is completely adorable, and it's written in poem form. I'll buy this if I ever have kids.

Looking Forward

• Susan Srikant is sending me three of her books. I'll be reading and reviewing them this month and in October.
• I am participating in an ARC Tour for Damsel Distressed, so you'll be seeing an advanced review for the book on my blog soon. I'll pass along more information when I get it so you can follow the other reviewers involved with the tour.
• I'm anxiously waiting on some September releases, so keep your eyes peeled for "Stacking the Shelves." I'll probably be buying a lot of books this month. 
• Books I plan on reading in September include:
  • Cress by Marissa Meyer
  • Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
  • The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
  • The Disappearance of Lars Wellingsworth by Susan Srikant
  • The Remedy by Susan Srikant
  • The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

The Friday 56 (4)

The Friday 56 is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice.

It is quickly becoming one of my favorite memes because I love sharing a little bit of what I read with people. This book meme gives me the chance to share something from the books I'm reading with people other than just my friends.

If you want to participate, all you need to do is link your post to Freda's blog. (She posts a linky when she posts her Friday 56.) Then you open the book closest to you (or the one you're currently reading) to page fifty-six (or 56% on your e-reader). From there, you find a sentence or two that you want to share that will make someone who hasn't read the book want to read it. Just try not to spoil anything. We don't want to give away any major plot details.

This Friday, I'm reading the third book in Marissa Meyers' The Lunar Chronicles series. By now, I'm probably sure that you're sick of seeing stuff from The Lunar Chronicles posted all over my blog. I really haven't had a lot of time to fly through this series like I wanted to, but I'm glad to be reading them for the All About YA group. The books are fun and entertaining. I really feel like Cress might be my favorite once I've finished them. I kind of love "Rapunzel" stories.

"'We've extended an invitation to Her Lunar Majesty to join us via netscreen, but our offer was not accepted.'"

So obviously, this is a spoken line in the book. I don't think it really spoils anything, but it does show us how rude Queen Levana can be. It's not like Emperor Kai is asking her to fly down to Earth for a meeting. It's just a netscreen conversation.

So what is everyone reading this Friday? As always, feel free to let me know in the comments or leave a link to your Friday 56 post.

Have a great weekend, and happy reading!

Review: Scarlet

Title: Scarlet

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Format: Hardcover, First Edition

Source: Purchased from Amazon

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Review

So I've had a bit of time since finishing Scarlet to think about my review, but it doesn't really make writing it any easier. While I am truly enjoying the series, I felt like Scarlet lacked some of the key energy that Meyer had in Cinder. I never wanted to stop reading Cinder, but I had a harder time reading Scarlet. It's not that I didn't like this book; it's just that this one felt a little slower. It wasn't as intense as Cinder for me.

Picking up where Cinder left off, Scarlet continues the tale of Cinder. She escapes from prison and takes another prisoner with her, and together, they are outlaws on the run from the Commonwealth. We are also introduced to two new characters, Scarlet Benoit and Wolf, and their attraction to one another does drive a lot of their part of the story, but there is a little bit more than just romance with these two characters. They each have stories of their own, and figuring them out makes reading this one fun.

While I would say that this book is more romantic than Cinder, I also found it to have a bit more action. There are some battle scenes, and I think they were okay. They certainly could have been written better and with more enthusiasm. I lost interest in many of them, even though I know that the fighting and the rebellion is an important part of this series.

Remember that picture that Kai was shown in Cinder? It's an integral part of this novel, and I was kind of angry with myself for being so distracted and missing it right away. Because of it, Kai is forced to make a decision that could change the history of the world yet again. Like how awesome is it for Meyer to have these young characters making so many important decisions? I love it! But I couldn't help but find myself angry with the choice that Kai makes. I know he is making it for what he thinks are all the right reasons, but he is being naive. It bothered me because at the end of Cinder, I really thought that he would grow to be the great leader that he's supposed to be, but it looks like he still has some growing up to do, and I'm fine with that. I'm sure things will change, but the choice just didn't sit well with me when I read it. I think he could have done something else to calm things.

All in all, I didn't think the book was terrible, but I just wanted a little bit more out of it. There is another cliffhanger, so I grabbed Cress, and I hope to see some things become resolved.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (4)

Okay... so I know that not a lot of people enjoy Mondays, but this book meme makes Mondays just a little more bearable. I don't know about you, but Mondays, especially Mondays when I actually have to work, could use a little cheer. I'm babysitting three kids today, so a little reading while they are playing is just the trick to make the day go by a little bit faster.

For those of you who might start school today, Happy First Day of School! I personally always loved the first day of school, even though it meant less time to read what I wanted to read. Just remember that it's a new year, and everything is fresh again. There is so much to learn, so go out there, and try your best.

Everyone else, Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend.

Mondays are starting to become a favorite of mine because of It's Monday. It's a really cool book meme that's hosted by BookJourney. Each Monday, you get to share the book or books that you are reading during the week.

This Monday, I've decided to continue reading the books in The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. The Goodreads group I'm a mod for is reading the series starting next month, and because I'm in charge of the BOTM and Series Reads, I decided to get ahead on the reading so I could be better prepared when people start posting on the discussion boards. (If you're interested in joining us, the link to the group is on the left column of my blog.)

I finished Scarlet last night, so today, I'm going to read Cress. The cliffhanger ending in Scarlet was enough to make me want to jump in the pages again. I need to find out how Cinder is going to act on her promise to Iko and basically the rest of the world, even though they don't know about her yet.

I'm also excited to meet Cress. From what I've seen, Cress is based on Rapunzel, and I already think we've met her, just not officially. I can't wait to see how Cinder, Thorne, Scarlet, and Wolf work together to overthrow Levana. And obviously I need to know that Kai is not insane! I hope he figures out a way to save the planet without sacrificing himself. He seems like he is going to be such a great emperor.

I've also noticed that Cress has a very high average rating on Goodreads, so of course, I am excited to start it. If you've read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts, but maybe after I finish. I don't want to spoil myself because this is a series that no one has spoiled for me, and it's really made it an enjoyable series to read.

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.

TBR Thursday (1)

TBR Thursday is a meme that was started by Sarah (Words with Sarah). All that's done is you pick a book that's been on your TBR list for three or more months that you plan on reading during the week or weekend.

This might be considered cheating because I already started reading it, but for my first TBR Thursday, I'm choosing Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I started it this week and I'm not too far into the book because I've been working a lot.

Cinder has been on my TBR list since before it even came out, but every time that I saw it in a store, I figured I would just pick it up another day. Another day became another day, and then Scarlet was released. Yet another day became another day, and I saw hardcovers of Cress in stores. Oops.

I joined a YA group called All About YA on Goodreads and am part of the trio who runs it. We decided to make it our first series read (starting in September) so I decided to read it before I start the discussion.

So far, I'm really liking it, and I'm glad that I'm finally getting around to reading it. I'm extremely excited to start Scarlet and Cress soon too. All three look they they belong on my shelves, and I can't wait to say that I've finally read them.

P.S. While I've still got your attention, check out Robin and Angie's blogs. Together the three of us run All About YA.

The Opposites Book Tag

I was tagged by Gloria. You can see her post here.

Basically all you have to do is answer some questions about books on your shelves. It deals with opposites!

1. The First Book in Your Collection/The Last Book You Bought

There are so many books that I had from being a kid, and the first ones I remember are Screamy Mimi and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

The last book I bought was Say What You Will. I'm still waiting for it to get here.

2. A Cheap Book/An Expensive Book

I bought a hardcover of Cinder for $4.99 on Book Outlet. It's a good website, but I've noticed that it is very hit or miss.

I bought an autographed copy of Four: A Divergent Collection for $17.99. It's not nearly as expensive of the signed copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone that I want, but it's the first book I've paid full price for in a while.

3. A Book with a Male POV/A Book with a Female POV

I'm going with the ever popular If I Stay duo. If I Stay is told from Mia's perspective, but Adam narrates Where She Went.

4. A Book that You Read Quickly/A Book that You Read Slowly

I read Anna and the French Kiss rather quickly.

The Fault in Our Stars was a really slow and boring read for me.

5. A Pretty Cover/An Ugly Cover

I'm quite fond of the cover for My Name is Memory. It is shiny and the colors are great.

I can't think of a book cover that I dislike right now... I'm sure one will come to me later.

6. A National Book/An International Book

I'm not so sure I understand this, so I am going to go with Harry Potter. Even though I know that it's set in the UK, I realize that readers in the United States are the only ones with our covers. The covers are the same in the UK and the rest of the world. I like how there are different versions of the covers. I really like the original U.S. covers, but the redesign is nice too. I really like the redesign of the UK versions, but in most of them, Harry doesn't really look like he is growing up like he does in the story.

The redesign and original US covers

Original and redesigned worldwide covers

I don't know. I love all four versions, and I hope to get the new U.S. box set and both sets of the British versions. Road trip to Canada, anyone?

7. A Thin Book/A Thick Book

I won Ghost Songs through Goodreads, and was surprised by how thin it was. I still have to read it, but I'll be sure to let everyone know how I like it.

I own quite a few thick books, and the thickest one I own is my dictionary.

8. A Fiction Book/A Nonfiction Book

I own many fiction books, so it's hard for me to choose just one. I'm going with Wonder because the story is so realistic that it hurts. If you haven't read this wonderful book, you should. I highly recommend it to everyone.

My choice for nonfiction is very near and dear to my heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been fascinated with the RMS Titanic. Many of my Christmas presents were books about the doomed ocean liner. My edition is different, but I couldn't find a working image of the book on my shelves.

9. A Romantic Book/ An Action Book

I have a lot of romance books on my shelves because I've read a lot of Nicholas Sparks.

For my action book, I'm going with The Hunger Games because of the games.  Need I say more?

10. A Book that Made You Happy/ A Book that Made You Sad

I laughed so hard when I read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. I know the title is a bit morbid, but this book is hilarious.

Now for a book that made me sad. If you've read this one, you know why.

So, I'm tagging anyone who reads this to post your answers. Leave a comment with a link to yours because I'd love to see what opposites you have on your shelves.