Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Feiwel and Friends (2015), Hardcover
Description
The #1 New York Times Bestselling Series! 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? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series. The audio includes an interview between the author and the narrator.… (more)
Media reviews
Winter (book)
The Last Battle for Destiny
As a child, we’ve all experienced reading fairytale stories with our parents at bedtime. Perhaps it is about Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, or Sleeping Beauty. But what about a story with a little cyborg twist and dystopian tension? Well, Winter by Marissa Meyer is
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the last book in the fantastical series The Lunar Chronicles. It is an adaptation on the legendary story of Snow White, and is a continuation on the adventures of Cinder or (spoiler of the preceding books) Princess Selene, and her friends as they plan to battle back for the throne against Cinder's aunt, Queen Levana. While you read this book, you’ll go on a magical ride through Winter’s, Selene’s, and her many friends’ journeys as they battle through obstacles like escaping from Levana’s traps in this cunning plot that Meyer has written.
Born as an ordinary citizen of Luna, Winter isn't originally a princess until her father marries into the royal family. Living on her homeland Luna, or the Moon, however, Winter isn’t a “normal” Lunar. Lunars have the power to manipulate/force others to do what they want and glamorize themselves to look prettier/more attractive or even like someone else. However, if not used for a long period of time, these powers can cause the Lunars to suffer and experience hallucinations. Although Winter could use her powers, she only tries it once and regrets it her whole life. One of her servants tried to commit suicide because of being mistreated by Levana’s guards, but is stopped because of Winter’s powers. However, it came to Winter’s realization that this had only lead to the servant getting mistreated even more, so she does not intervene with the servant’s second suicidal attempt. Since she doesn’t use her powers, she hallucinates a lot during the book and she describes a lot about how she is feeling, what she’s seeing, and what she is smelling during these insufferable times. “It was all around her. On the walls. Dripping from the chandelier…The walls are bleeding. The chandelier too, and it got on my shoulder, and I think it's staining my shoes, and I can smell it, and taste it, and why-” (152-153) I love how I am able to really feel how she felt, as if I am actually her in the scene.
After searching for her lost dear cousin, Princess Selene/Cinder, who is supposedly killed in a fire as a toddler, Winter soon finds out that this is all a show, and that Levana knows she is alive. As the time came for Cinder to announce her rivalry against Levana, she leaves the castle, and departs from everything she knows to find her own army to rebel against Luna’s unrightful Queen, her own mother. During the process, she develops a fondness for her guard Jacin Clay, and as their relationship develops throughout the book, it is delightful to see how they grow together and realize that they were meant for each other. They share the same humor, care for each other, and would risk their lives as long as their significant other is safe. It is such a delight to read and join in the twists and turns that occur with their relationship.
While reading Winter, I came to find that it's about bravery and taking risks although it's tough. Sacrificing yourself for your country is a big and daunting task, and in this book, there are so many dangers involved with rebelling against Levana- her thaumaturges, wolf soldiers, and glamor/manipulation. It takes great courage and guts to do this, and is so powerful to read about all of the characters coming together, fighting for a better queen even though their lives were at big risk. You could definitely feel and sympathize for all of the characters' journeys and where they came from, especially Winter, whose life is so distorted and unplanned from the moment she is born.
Although the theme for this book is quite hidden and hard to recognize, the meaning or theme that I found in this book is to never give up and to keep going even when it seems impossible. Since Cinder is a cyborg, her parts are not waterproof. After she falls into a river trying to defeat Levana, her control panel is badly damaged, driving her into a frenzy. But, she realizes that she has to get back up, win for her people, and to rewrite a new history, one that will for sure be significant. “Cinder pleaded with her control panel to wake up, to fight back, to be stronger than her, to win- ‘I am Princess Selene” (691). Although her body was slowly disintegrating in health and power, this quote shows her perseverance, knowing she had to keep pushing forward and never give up. The future of Luna rests on her shoulders, and the Lunars all depend on her to win this battle. This also shows the determination that Cinder and her friends had, and that they gave it their all until the last second.
Hands down, this is a must-read for readers who like fantasy books, mild love relationships, and teamwork. Aside from this, however, this is a book that is best for readers that can keep up with many different characters, along with understanding the plot that each character is going through. Each chapter(s) alternate from character to character and contains the points of view of Cinder’s friends as they venture into the new world of Luna. To be completely honest, it is a long read, but it's a book that you’ll want to keep reading over and over again and keep reading in the fight for the battle of destiny in Lunar History.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Anniik
Good ending to a great series! I love the combination of sci-fi and princess stories, and while sometimes I didn't care that much about the romances, I really did enjoy the writing and the story and the creativity of this whole series.
LibraryThing member cool-mom-e
Highly entertaining and actually appropriate for the YA market
Loved the twist of this series. Loved that it was romantic but clean. Loved that one day I would be fine with my teen girls reading it. Can't say that about most YA books these days. 5 stars
Loved the twist of this series. Loved that it was romantic but clean. Loved that one day I would be fine with my teen girls reading it. Can't say that about most YA books these days. 5 stars
LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles. I adored this book, in fact I have pretty much loved this whole series. This book is just perfect and made me so sad that the series is over.
Princess Winter is the somewhat disturbed stepdaughter of Queen Levana. She despises Queen Levana
This book switches point of view a lot and goes between a number of characters. We hear from Winter, Scarlet, Cinder, Cress, Levana, Jacin, Wolf, Thorne, and Kai. This works beautifully for this book. Each of these characters is incredibly interesting and fun to read about. Meyer blends all of these POVs together beautifully to make an engaging, cohesive, and epic story.
The story is mainly science fiction with some romance. Meyer does an incredible job of blending fairy tale elements into this epic science fiction story. This book is of course (kind of) a retelling of Snow White. Meyer brings in elements of the evil stepmother, the dwarfs (in the form of the miners who offer Winter assistance), and the poison apple. These elements are cleverly woven in and never feel forced or contrived.
This is an excellent fairy tale retelling, but really it is much more than that. This is just an absolutely beautifully crafted story in general. This is one of those stories that has it all; excellent world-building, engaging characters, action, interesting sci-fi elements, politics, intrigue, and romance.
I have loved every book in this series but this book was the best by far. It was so much fun to see all the characters come together from the first three books and watch how everything is wrapped up. Meyer obviously had the story well planned out from the beginning and it was amazing to see how it all played out.
Overall an incredibly conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles. So many things are done perfectly in this story; it was an excellent series in general. The story is very creative, fun to read, and engaging. This is a long book but I breezed through it in a couple days and it never felt long or slow. The characters, world, and plot were all amazing. This whole series is highly recommended to everyone; especially to those who enjoy creative fairy tale retellings and action packed science fiction.
Princess Winter is the somewhat disturbed stepdaughter of Queen Levana. She despises Queen Levana
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and is desperate to find a way to get the people of Lunar out from under Levana’s rule. Winter is doing what she can to help; she saved Scarlet’s life and is trying to find ways to help Cinder claim the Lunar throne. Can Winter, Scarlet, Cress, and Cinder do what is needed to save both the people of Lunar and Earth from Levana’s dastardly plans?This book switches point of view a lot and goes between a number of characters. We hear from Winter, Scarlet, Cinder, Cress, Levana, Jacin, Wolf, Thorne, and Kai. This works beautifully for this book. Each of these characters is incredibly interesting and fun to read about. Meyer blends all of these POVs together beautifully to make an engaging, cohesive, and epic story.
The story is mainly science fiction with some romance. Meyer does an incredible job of blending fairy tale elements into this epic science fiction story. This book is of course (kind of) a retelling of Snow White. Meyer brings in elements of the evil stepmother, the dwarfs (in the form of the miners who offer Winter assistance), and the poison apple. These elements are cleverly woven in and never feel forced or contrived.
This is an excellent fairy tale retelling, but really it is much more than that. This is just an absolutely beautifully crafted story in general. This is one of those stories that has it all; excellent world-building, engaging characters, action, interesting sci-fi elements, politics, intrigue, and romance.
I have loved every book in this series but this book was the best by far. It was so much fun to see all the characters come together from the first three books and watch how everything is wrapped up. Meyer obviously had the story well planned out from the beginning and it was amazing to see how it all played out.
Overall an incredibly conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles. So many things are done perfectly in this story; it was an excellent series in general. The story is very creative, fun to read, and engaging. This is a long book but I breezed through it in a couple days and it never felt long or slow. The characters, world, and plot were all amazing. This whole series is highly recommended to everyone; especially to those who enjoy creative fairy tale retellings and action packed science fiction.
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LibraryThing member fredamans
Best in the series!!
Every character from each of the book in the series come together to make one badass story! All the pieces of the puzzle slip perfectly into place, and everything you hope for and more happens.
Oh, fans of the series will love this one most, by far. The action is thicker. The
As with most fairytales, there is usually a happy ending. There is one here too, but not everything you hoped for will be absolutely perfect, though most of the happily ever after will be exactly what you hoped for. Strange, but read it to see what I mean.
I can't wait to see what Stars Above holds in store for us next!
Every character from each of the book in the series come together to make one badass story! All the pieces of the puzzle slip perfectly into place, and everything you hope for and more happens.
Oh, fans of the series will love this one most, by far. The action is thicker. The
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suspense is heavier and the drama is extreme. You will be on the edge of your seat through to the end.As with most fairytales, there is usually a happy ending. There is one here too, but not everything you hoped for will be absolutely perfect, though most of the happily ever after will be exactly what you hoped for. Strange, but read it to see what I mean.
I can't wait to see what Stars Above holds in store for us next!
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles.
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
An excellent conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles and well-worth the wait. After spending most of the first three books on Earth (or in its orbit), most of the action in this final volume takes place on Luna, which helps one to flesh out the intricacies of Lunar society and understand the full
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tyranny of Levana's rule. Cinder and Kai remain my favorite characters, but I was happy to see the story-lines of the others develop and reach their resolutions. I would wish for more books in this series, but I really liked the conclusion and I suppose I will just hope for this author to keep writing! Show Less
LibraryThing member Jessika.C
Summary
Princess Winter has an ongoing battle with her mind. Unlike Levana she refuses to use her gift on others and pays the consequences severely. Blood trails down every wall she sees and there’s nothing to stop it except when Jacin is around...But that doesn't stop her from trying to find ways
Thoughts and whatnot: MARISSA MEYER IS MY FAVORITE. IKO WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE. WINTER AND JACIN ARE JUST SQUEEE
Enough of my fangirl nonsense. I loved this conclusion, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this satisfied or if I have I don’t remember. It is a beast of a novel and it did take me a while to finish but not because of lack of interest but rather time. We don’t get much insight to who Winter is as a person but we can clearly perceive she’s a much nicer lunar than Levana and has a presence about her that makes you just want to get to know her, ironically though we don’t know anymore about her than we do Scarlet but it’s balanced with the character growth that happens in this book.
It could be argued that not everyone got an equal amount of love but lets face it: this is Cinder’s story. I thought the book did that justice and managed to introduce us to a sweet Princess, a handsome Guardsman, a hot jerk (Iko’s words…and mine tbh) who is also a guard, and a long lost mother. It also wrapped up a lot of other little subplots, loops, questions and gave a nice little farewell that was extremely satisfying; it gave an ending that felt very full circle.
There’s really nothing else to say about this. It’s a must-read for anyone who read ALL three of its successors (the little insight from Fairest is also a fun bit to add but not necessary) but I don’t think it would be as fun to read as a stand-alone.
Though stay tuned for Stars Above! The collection of short stories for the series including little Winter and Jacin and little Cress and little Scarlet prequels, Kai's POV, and a reunion epilogue after the events of Winter. So excited! *squeals*
Princess Winter has an ongoing battle with her mind. Unlike Levana she refuses to use her gift on others and pays the consequences severely. Blood trails down every wall she sees and there’s nothing to stop it except when Jacin is around...But that doesn't stop her from trying to find ways
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around her stepmother's cruel ways. Meanwhile Cinder is hiding in space with her crew on the Rampion planning her overthrow of the Lunar monarchy. Both Cinder and Winter are about to be faced with an epic takedown right up there on Luna. Allies are made, others are lost in battle but anything goes when it means an end to Levana’s rule.Thoughts and whatnot: MARISSA MEYER IS MY FAVORITE. IKO WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE. WINTER AND JACIN ARE JUST SQUEEE
Enough of my fangirl nonsense. I loved this conclusion, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this satisfied or if I have I don’t remember. It is a beast of a novel and it did take me a while to finish but not because of lack of interest but rather time. We don’t get much insight to who Winter is as a person but we can clearly perceive she’s a much nicer lunar than Levana and has a presence about her that makes you just want to get to know her, ironically though we don’t know anymore about her than we do Scarlet but it’s balanced with the character growth that happens in this book.
It could be argued that not everyone got an equal amount of love but lets face it: this is Cinder’s story. I thought the book did that justice and managed to introduce us to a sweet Princess, a handsome Guardsman, a hot jerk (Iko’s words…and mine tbh) who is also a guard, and a long lost mother. It also wrapped up a lot of other little subplots, loops, questions and gave a nice little farewell that was extremely satisfying; it gave an ending that felt very full circle.
There’s really nothing else to say about this. It’s a must-read for anyone who read ALL three of its successors (the little insight from Fairest is also a fun bit to add but not necessary) but I don’t think it would be as fun to read as a stand-alone.
Though stay tuned for Stars Above! The collection of short stories for the series including little Winter and Jacin and little Cress and little Scarlet prequels, Kai's POV, and a reunion epilogue after the events of Winter. So excited! *squeals*
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LibraryThing member bell7
Winter is the stepdaughter of Queen Levana of Luna, known to be crazy, but beautiful and beloved by the people. When her friend and guard, Jacin, is brought before Levana for treachery, she fears for his life. Meanwhile, Cinder - actually Princess Selene and heir to the throne of Luna - and her
I've really enjoyed these fractured fairy tales set in a science fiction future, the premise of all the Lunar Chronicles. In this fourth and final book, we see all those threads come together for a final showdown... the only problem is how very long it takes to get there. There are many, many threads to wrap up and at over 800 pages this is no easy book to be reading in bed, so my reading this book suffered from being stretched over nearly two weeks, making it feel even longer. I do really enjoy the characters and their interactions, and the ending was extremely satisfying, but I definitely wished the book was about half as long. Though it's not the strongest in the series, I definitely recommend it to fans of teen fantasy and dystopias - it's got the best of both worlds in those genres.
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friends Thorne, Wolf, Kai, and Cress come up with a plot to overthrow Levana on her own turf, starting a revolution, and hopefully rescuing Scarlet while they're at it.I've really enjoyed these fractured fairy tales set in a science fiction future, the premise of all the Lunar Chronicles. In this fourth and final book, we see all those threads come together for a final showdown... the only problem is how very long it takes to get there. There are many, many threads to wrap up and at over 800 pages this is no easy book to be reading in bed, so my reading this book suffered from being stretched over nearly two weeks, making it feel even longer. I do really enjoy the characters and their interactions, and the ending was extremely satisfying, but I definitely wished the book was about half as long. Though it's not the strongest in the series, I definitely recommend it to fans of teen fantasy and dystopias - it's got the best of both worlds in those genres.
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LibraryThing member acargile
This is the final book in The Lunar Chronicles, which began with Cinder.
I really enjoy the world that Ms. Meyer has created. If you haven’t read this series, it’s loosely based on fairy tales. Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Thorn, Cress, Winter, and Jacin come together to fight the final battle
As it is a last book, I refuse to say more about the plot. I thoroughly enjoy the novel. If you like this type of novel, you’ll also like the novel Stitching Snow, which is a stand-alone novel.
I really enjoy the world that Ms. Meyer has created. If you haven’t read this series, it’s loosely based on fairy tales. Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Thorn, Cress, Winter, and Jacin come together to fight the final battle
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with Queen Levana. If you didn’t read Fairest, the novel about Levana’s past, you should. It helps to understand Winter. As it is a last book, I refuse to say more about the plot. I thoroughly enjoy the novel. If you like this type of novel, you’ll also like the novel Stitching Snow, which is a stand-alone novel.
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LibraryThing member BellaFoxx
If you have not read the first three book: CINDER, SCARLET and CRESS, this review will contain spoilers. Also, it is best to read this series in order.
This the last book in the series. It has been a fun read and this book was not a disappointment. It has all our old friends and some new ones, along
This the last book in the series. It has been a fun read and this book was not a disappointment. It has all our old friends and some new ones, along
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with the usual enemies and villains. I was kind of sad to see it end, but there are 'filler books', as I like to call them. Books with the designation: The Lunar Chronicles, 0.5 and 0.6, which kind of explain how certain characters got the way they are. For instance, Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles #3.5) gives us Queen Levana's history, why she always uses her glamour and why she is so power mad. So it's not really over, until it is. Show Less
LibraryThing member courtneygiraldo
Having all been united (except for Scarlet- shes still imprisoned on Luna), the team has successful derailed the marriage between Emperor Kai and queen Levena by kidnapping Kai and escaping off in the Rampion to plot their next moves; head to Luna, rescue Scarlet, and overthrow Levena while
Meanwhile, Scarlet is imprisoned on Luna, the plaything of the mentally fragile Princess of Luna, Winter. Scarlet feels defeated, having been tortured by the Lunar Court, she now only has Winter for company. Caged and alone she fears she may never see her friends again. Winter is the step daughter of Levena, kept alive and (mostly unharmed) by Levena due to a dying wish from her late husband, Winters father. Winter despises the royal court, their cruelty and disdain for shells and humans, the cruel ways they use their Lunar gift to manipulate others. She saves Scarlet by asking to keep her as a pet in her menagerie of animals. Winter is psychologically fragile, damaged even. She refuses to use her lunar gift, hates to see how easy it is to manipulate others free will, and staunchly refuses to manipulate anyone which results in her, ahem, insanity. It is a clearly documented side affect of not using the Lunar gift, that it eventually drives the person mad. She is thrilled with the return of her best friend Jacin after the kidnapping of the Queens betrothed and through him eventually learns of the plan by the others to overthrow Levena and instate Cinder (Selene) as Queen.
Having always been jealous of her beauty and the way in which the people of Luna love her, Levena (becoming more and more unhinged as the book wears on) orders the assassination of Winter, by none other than Jacin (she is so twisted that Levena). Jacin, unable to follow through on orders (hello, its SO obvious they love each other- just say it already!), arranges for Winter and Scarlet's escape into the outer sectors of Luna.
Cinder and her gang eventually put into motion their plan which involves returning Kai to resume his marriage to Levena, arriving (semi)undetected to Luna, rescuing Scarlet. staging a coup, assuming control of the throne, and gaining access to the cure for the plague. Of course, nothing goes quite to plan (when does it ever?!).
Overall, I was very satisfied with how this series turned out. Watching the evolution of all the characters, who all not only were involved in the journey of establishing interplanetary peace, but also individual journeys of identity was very gratifying. There were enough twists and turns to keep the story line interesting and fresh. I have to say, my most favorite story line to follow was the evolution of the relationship between Cress and Thorne ( I know, I know, I've said it like a million times, but I seriously LOVE these two together, the way they bring to the surface parts of themselves not shown to anyone).
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instating the true Lunar Queen in her place, none other than our beloved Cinder (or Princess Selene as is her true birth name). Jacin has betrayed them, selling them out to Sybil and almost foiling their whole plan. He returns to Luna where he is reunited with his Princess Winter. Meanwhile, Scarlet is imprisoned on Luna, the plaything of the mentally fragile Princess of Luna, Winter. Scarlet feels defeated, having been tortured by the Lunar Court, she now only has Winter for company. Caged and alone she fears she may never see her friends again. Winter is the step daughter of Levena, kept alive and (mostly unharmed) by Levena due to a dying wish from her late husband, Winters father. Winter despises the royal court, their cruelty and disdain for shells and humans, the cruel ways they use their Lunar gift to manipulate others. She saves Scarlet by asking to keep her as a pet in her menagerie of animals. Winter is psychologically fragile, damaged even. She refuses to use her lunar gift, hates to see how easy it is to manipulate others free will, and staunchly refuses to manipulate anyone which results in her, ahem, insanity. It is a clearly documented side affect of not using the Lunar gift, that it eventually drives the person mad. She is thrilled with the return of her best friend Jacin after the kidnapping of the Queens betrothed and through him eventually learns of the plan by the others to overthrow Levena and instate Cinder (Selene) as Queen.
Having always been jealous of her beauty and the way in which the people of Luna love her, Levena (becoming more and more unhinged as the book wears on) orders the assassination of Winter, by none other than Jacin (she is so twisted that Levena). Jacin, unable to follow through on orders (hello, its SO obvious they love each other- just say it already!), arranges for Winter and Scarlet's escape into the outer sectors of Luna.
Cinder and her gang eventually put into motion their plan which involves returning Kai to resume his marriage to Levena, arriving (semi)undetected to Luna, rescuing Scarlet. staging a coup, assuming control of the throne, and gaining access to the cure for the plague. Of course, nothing goes quite to plan (when does it ever?!).
Overall, I was very satisfied with how this series turned out. Watching the evolution of all the characters, who all not only were involved in the journey of establishing interplanetary peace, but also individual journeys of identity was very gratifying. There were enough twists and turns to keep the story line interesting and fresh. I have to say, my most favorite story line to follow was the evolution of the relationship between Cress and Thorne ( I know, I know, I've said it like a million times, but I seriously LOVE these two together, the way they bring to the surface parts of themselves not shown to anyone).
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
What a satisfying and fairytale-ish ending to this series. We get another fairytale - Snow White - with all the different parts of the story that still manage to be translated to the world Ms. Meyer has created. There's lots of action in this volume, as well as lots of pairing up (what's a princess
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without a prince after all?) and some scary monsters and villians. Show Less
LibraryThing member BillieBook
Too long, but a satisfying conclusion to the series.
LibraryThing member thealtereggo
Great ending to a great series! Looking forward to reading "Stars Above" to enjoy more adventures from my favorite re-imagined fairy tale characters :)
LibraryThing member nicholsm
Satisfying conclusion to a great series!
LibraryThing member kelsymccullough
Well, as sad as I am that this series is now over, I am happy with how things ended. I will miss all of these characters so much! This book was so action packed and stressful to read at times. I loved it!
LibraryThing member Arkrayder
This was a great book. For all of its 832 pages it kept me coming back to see how Cinders and the crew of the Rampion were doing. It's been awhile since I've read a book where I care about what was happening to the characters, and this whole Lunar Chronicles has been a joy to follow. Hopefully the
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author will continue to publish engaging novels. And maybe visit Luna again once in a while. Show Less
LibraryThing member amandacb
This series has done something that very few series (off the top of my head, I can only think of GAME OF THRONES) has done...it remains interesting and steady throughout. WINTER is no exception to this rule, as all the characters join forces to finally overthrow the evil Lunar queen. Just stunning.
LibraryThing member urph818
I thoroughly enjoyed the Lunar chronicles and Winter certainly was amazing. It was exactly what I wanted from a series finale. I couldn't believe how well Marissa Meyer wrapped up the series. Winter was epic, intense, emotional, and satisfying! I loved the world that Marissa created. Her
Jack Murphy
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characterization, the story and her writing were excellent.This is one of my favorite series and I can't wait for it to be turned into a movie series.Jack Murphy
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LibraryThing member colleenrec
For being the grand finale, there was a remarkable lack of drama or tension. It became clear that there was no way any of the main characters were going to die, so all the danger they got into fell flat.
Despite that, I was enjoying it until the ending. Cinder spends the series trying to find
Despite that, I was enjoying it until the ending. Cinder spends the series trying to find
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herself and accepting her role as queen and planning ways to improve Luna only to turn around and give it all up to remain a mechanic and marry Kai? I am so tired of authors giving their girls power and standing just to take it all away so they can stay with their boyfriend. Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceaP
I very much enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles. It has everything. I'm talking adventure, dystopia, romance, comedy, political upheaval, mutants, heroines, mental health issues, racial misunderstanding, and SO MUCH MORE. (No, this isn't a commercial.) The final book in the series, Winter, was a whopper
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at over 800 pages (Harry Potter anyone?) and Meyer covered a lot of ground. Not only did she have the gargantuan task of fleshing out the character of Winter as she had done with the first 3 (4 if you count Fairest) but she also had to tie it all together to bring a conclusion to the overarching struggle of the series. Will Levana succeed in marrying Kai and becoming Empress of the Eastern Commonwealth? Do Thorne and Cress have a chance at a happily ever after? Can Scarlet be saved from Winter's menagerie? Will Winter's Lunar sickness ultimately result in her complete break from reality? GO READ WINTER TO FIND OUT! Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: The princess Winter is known across Luna for being beautiful - maybe even more beautiful than her stepmother the Queen - but also a little crazy. Her oddness comes from her refusal to use her Lunar gift, a refusal which infuriates the Queen. Winter only truly feels safe with Jacin, one of
Review: While the previous three books in the series each focused on a different person, and intersected with the other's storylines to a greater or lesser extent, Winter is much more of a culmination of all that has come before. To be sure, there is definitely still the fairy-tale retold element - Snow White, again, in a continuation of the themes of Fairest - but Winter does not play the central role in her book in quite the same way as Cinder or Scarlet or Cress did in theirs. This book is much more of a team game, with the various women (and their accompanying men) all working together to topple the Lunar government. This was probably my favorite part about it, that they were finally all working together, for more-or-less a common cause, and each person's strengths were and integral part of the team's success. I also liked that there were times where those same strengths were used by their enemy to turn them against each other - it made the tension a lot more real. However, even though I realize there were a lot of characters to follow and a lot of storylines to keep track of, I still thought this book was overlong. Trimming one or two of the times that their plans went wrong and they had to figure a way out would have tightened this book up quite a bit. It's a fast read, and it's fast moving, so it never felt like it was dragging, exactly, but I think the point could have been made equally well without one or two of the escapades. Still, on the whole, I quite enjoyed it, and thought it did a very nice job bringing the series to a close. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Definitely do not read this without having read the preceeding books (including Fairest). But the series as a whole is a great blend of young adult sci-fi, fairy tales, and some good love stories, with plenty of action and humor and just good fun.
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her guards, and also her only friend, but she knows that Levanna would never allow it, and anyways, Jacin only sees her as a friend. But Winter will soon be put to the test, as Cinder and her friends are secretly on their way to Luna, under the guise of Prince Kai's wedding delegation, hoping to rescue Scarlet and overthrow the Queen. But how much help can one broken princess truly be?Review: While the previous three books in the series each focused on a different person, and intersected with the other's storylines to a greater or lesser extent, Winter is much more of a culmination of all that has come before. To be sure, there is definitely still the fairy-tale retold element - Snow White, again, in a continuation of the themes of Fairest - but Winter does not play the central role in her book in quite the same way as Cinder or Scarlet or Cress did in theirs. This book is much more of a team game, with the various women (and their accompanying men) all working together to topple the Lunar government. This was probably my favorite part about it, that they were finally all working together, for more-or-less a common cause, and each person's strengths were and integral part of the team's success. I also liked that there were times where those same strengths were used by their enemy to turn them against each other - it made the tension a lot more real. However, even though I realize there were a lot of characters to follow and a lot of storylines to keep track of, I still thought this book was overlong. Trimming one or two of the times that their plans went wrong and they had to figure a way out would have tightened this book up quite a bit. It's a fast read, and it's fast moving, so it never felt like it was dragging, exactly, but I think the point could have been made equally well without one or two of the escapades. Still, on the whole, I quite enjoyed it, and thought it did a very nice job bringing the series to a close. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Definitely do not read this without having read the preceeding books (including Fairest). But the series as a whole is a great blend of young adult sci-fi, fairy tales, and some good love stories, with plenty of action and humor and just good fun.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
A fabulous conclusion to an incredible crafted series. This one was fast paced and incredibly hard to put down. Plenty of action, witty banter and just hands down one of my favorite teen series. Enjoyed this series as all of the characters were richly developed, flawed and very human - even Iko. I
Favorite Quotes
“Yeah, but broken isn't the same as unfixable.”
“Thorne scoffed. “Careful is my middle name. Right after Suave and Daring.”
“Do you even know what you're saying half the time?” asked Cinder.”
“My point is that I am going to figure this out, like I always do. First, we’re going to find a way to get into Artemisia. We’re going to find Cress and rescue Cinder and Wolf. We’re going to overthrow Levana, and by the stars above, we are going to make Cinder a queen so she can pay us a lot of money from her royal coffers and we can all retire very rich and very alive, got it?"
Winter started to clap. "Brilliant speech. Such gumption and bravado."
"And yet strangely lacking in any sort of actual strategy," said Scarlet.
"Oh, good, I'm glad you noticed that too," said Iko. "I was worried my processor might be glitching.”
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am seriously going to miss the dialogues between Thorne -- and well every one of the characters. Such a delightful rogue. Also I really enjoyed how Cress developed as a character, feel quite the connection to her, well cuz she was me at that age -- well a lot prettier, but other than that - she was me. One complaint, I think we need a Kinney store asap.Favorite Quotes
“Yeah, but broken isn't the same as unfixable.”
“Thorne scoffed. “Careful is my middle name. Right after Suave and Daring.”
“Do you even know what you're saying half the time?” asked Cinder.”
“My point is that I am going to figure this out, like I always do. First, we’re going to find a way to get into Artemisia. We’re going to find Cress and rescue Cinder and Wolf. We’re going to overthrow Levana, and by the stars above, we are going to make Cinder a queen so she can pay us a lot of money from her royal coffers and we can all retire very rich and very alive, got it?"
Winter started to clap. "Brilliant speech. Such gumption and bravado."
"And yet strangely lacking in any sort of actual strategy," said Scarlet.
"Oh, good, I'm glad you noticed that too," said Iko. "I was worried my processor might be glitching.”
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LibraryThing member trinityM82
800 pages and a revolution but nobody dies. BOO. I don't want EVERYTHING to be like Game ofThrones, but give me a freaking break. ALSO, the main character, Winter, is insane and SUCH a victim it is annoying to read her. She could easily use her gift and save herself, but she refuses to help, and
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will allow herself to be sacrificed, which I could not abide. And Cinder was also unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices, so it was tough to read. All and all, it was okay, I read to about page 500 but then skimmed the rest of it. There wasn't enough Iko to sustain me, and there was too much love story. It would be okay to listen to the rest of it, but it feels like you are never getting anywhere when you read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member ComposingComposer
Winter was an epic conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles.
Winter was a sweet, loving girl with dubious sanity. "She was prettier than a bouquet and crazier than a headless chicken." She refuses to use her gift because she knows that any kind of manipulation is just that--manipulation. I admire Winter
Jacin was not my favorite character. He spent way too much time smothering his emotions (though he had a good reason to) and I found that somewhat frustrating. I did admire his bravery and I felt that his hidden feelings for Winter was very real, unlike many of the couples in YA books. I guess part of the problem with Jacin is that we really only had this one book to get to know him, and if he'd been a more obviously likeable character than that wouldn't have been a problem, but because it took longer to get to know him, this one book really isn't enough. The Guard and the Princess novella in the Stars Above short story collection did help with this problem.
Cress grew a lot in this book. She became braver, and stronger, and, while she didn't have the full disillusionment from Thorne that I felt she should get before she could be truly in love with him, she did get a little bit of one, and that was enough that I could believe that what they had would eventually grow into real love.
Thorne, of course, is still daring and cocky and annoying. Even though I still like him for some bizarre reason. I thought that his realizing that Cress, the girl who he'd basically brushed off, was a sweet and caring individual, and I enjoyed his growing to regret his previous rejection of her feelings. It was nice to see him finally show some fear and drop his cockiness a bit, though he didn't lose his personality.
I felt like Scarlet was finally able to deliver on the promise of her being a badass. I really hadn't seen that part of her in the other two books, even though the author had tried to establish that she was one in the first book. Sure, she still couldn't outstrip Cinder in the badass department, but at least we were able to see her escape, save Winter, and show her excellent marksmanship. She was separated from Wolf for a good portion of this book, but their relationship still managed to develop quite a bit when they were reunited at the end.
I was so sad for Wolf. He went through the wringer in this book.being separated from Scarlet, finding his mom only to lose her for good, finding Scarlet, only to be separated from her again, and being put through the awful transformations that he'd so dreaded since being through the first one. I was so hoping they could undo the transformation, but alas. At least the victims of Levana's mostly wolf transformation still keep their minds, which surprised me because I thought that it was implied that they lost much of their personalities if they were put through that surgery, but I guess this book was the first one where we actually met fully transformed wolf-soldiers, much less had one of our main characters turned into one. I also loved Wolf and Scarlet's relationship development. In Scarlet it was instalove, in Cress I was cautiously optimistic it would grow to be real, in Winter I thought that it grew to a full relationship, worthy of being described as love.
Cinder. Well, Cinder is still, by far, my favorite character in this series. She didn't have as much character development in this book as in the others, but I did enjoy seeing her new confidence and lack of shame of her cyborg parts. I also really liked seeing her have to deal with the world without her built-in computer. I honestly think that the damaging of the computer made her a stronger character, and it was after her jump of the balcony that she had the most character growth this book. I admire her decision todissolve the monarchy. In most books where this step is taken I generally feel like it's a trope, or even a copout from the author (because most authors live in democracies, they seem to want to ram down everyone's throats the fact that monarchies are often bad) but I really thought that it worked in this series. Far better than in most books, because there was a real, genuine need to for Lunar citizens to be ruled by more than just one person. I don't think that Cinder's relationship with Kai developed as much as I would have liked, but I still think that their crush/like/infatuations have a tendency to turn real, especially because they spent this entire book having to trust each other completely, all while not communicated with one another or having any idea what the other was doing to cope with the unfortunate deviations from their plans.
Kai is not my favorite character. He hasn't had all that much character growth from the first book, but he has had some. Like I said in my paragraph about Cinder, I don't feel like their relationship is real yet, but I do think that it can (and probably will) become more real as time goes on. Throughout the series, Kai has been planning to marry Levana in an attempt to bring peace, or at least a plague antidote, to Earth, even as he is fairly aware that his marrying Lavana would result in her world domination. I found it somewhat frustrating that he still had that plan in this book, but at least he was only doing it in order to distract Levana and help Cinder. I also appreciated the fact that he finally showed some open defiance to Levana, even though he still had reason to fear her reprisal.
I like Iko's character. Mostly. It's hard not to like her bubbly nature and love of fancy things, but I still find her somewhat difficult to identify with because she, in some ways, isn't real. She is a robot who's program was accidentally set to think she's human. Still, if I suspend my disbelief then I can really enjoy her character and the fact that she's the main cause of humor in these books (even more than Thorne, probably.)
Levana, of course, was as evil as ever. I don't think that Levana is right in the head. When you don't hear her point of view you can believe that she was just evil, but after reading Fairest, I came to believe that Levana had some wires crossed, which really makes me feel bad for her, even as I hate how evil she let herself become. Also, forgetting the fact that she's an evil-minded lunatic who wants to take over earth, can we all just feel how creepy it is that Levana is at least thirty-five years old and working to marry Kai who is, how old again? Seventeen? Eighteen? And before Kai's father died she'd been trying to marry him? I guess with all of her other nasty, evil, creepy, nutcase doings, it shouldn't be so bizarre that she was willing to do that too.
Overall I really liked this book. One comment, though, is thatno characters that we loved died. The only (non-evil) characters who died were Ma'ha Kessley and Alpha Strom (and even throughout the whole series, only those two, Peony, Michelle Benoit and Doctor Erlend died,) and, while I liked those characters, their deaths weren't enough to really upset me. In most ways I'm really glad that all eight of our main characters survived, because I honestly can't think of any one of them that I'd be willing to part with, but there are two reasons why I feel at least one of them could've/should've died. The first is that I probably would have cried. I hate it when my favorite characters die, but I love it when I've become so invested in these nonexistent people that their nonexistent deaths make me cry, and when books make me cry I usually automatically consider them amazing. The second is that (and I learned this when comparing the Harry Potter series to the Key to Rondo trilogy) if there is a major battle, it doesn't feel nearly as real or dangerous unless a character you care about dies. If no one important dies then you can be told, or even shown countless, nameless or extremely minor character deaths, and the battle still won't feel dangerous, or like the main characters had to pay a big price to gain their victories. The fact that most of the main characters suffered devastating injuries to body and mind helped to bring a sense of danger and loss, but it still couldn't bring those feelings the way that the loss of a beloved character would have. Still, overall I am glad that all of our main characters survived.
Overall I thought that this book, and this series was amazing and I can't wait to read more books by Marissa Meyer.
Winter was a sweet, loving girl with dubious sanity. "She was prettier than a bouquet and crazier than a headless chicken." She refuses to use her gift because she knows that any kind of manipulation is just that--manipulation. I admire Winter
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because if you had such a gift, how difficult would it be not to use it, even just occasionally? Especially if the price was your sanity? I thought that her relationship with Jacin felt natural and real, and not at all like instalove since they'd know each other all their lives and both had crushes on each other, even if Jacin wouldn't admit it to her.Jacin was not my favorite character. He spent way too much time smothering his emotions (though he had a good reason to) and I found that somewhat frustrating. I did admire his bravery and I felt that his hidden feelings for Winter was very real, unlike many of the couples in YA books. I guess part of the problem with Jacin is that we really only had this one book to get to know him, and if he'd been a more obviously likeable character than that wouldn't have been a problem, but because it took longer to get to know him, this one book really isn't enough. The Guard and the Princess novella in the Stars Above short story collection did help with this problem.
Cress grew a lot in this book. She became braver, and stronger, and, while she didn't have the full disillusionment from Thorne that I felt she should get before she could be truly in love with him, she did get a little bit of one, and that was enough that I could believe that what they had would eventually grow into real love.
Thorne, of course, is still daring and cocky and annoying. Even though I still like him for some bizarre reason. I thought that his realizing that Cress, the girl who he'd basically brushed off, was a sweet and caring individual, and I enjoyed his growing to regret his previous rejection of her feelings. It was nice to see him finally show some fear and drop his cockiness a bit, though he didn't lose his personality.
I felt like Scarlet was finally able to deliver on the promise of her being a badass. I really hadn't seen that part of her in the other two books, even though the author had tried to establish that she was one in the first book. Sure, she still couldn't outstrip Cinder in the badass department, but at least we were able to see her escape, save Winter, and show her excellent marksmanship. She was separated from Wolf for a good portion of this book, but their relationship still managed to develop quite a bit when they were reunited at the end.
I was so sad for Wolf. He went through the wringer in this book.
Cinder. Well, Cinder is still, by far, my favorite character in this series. She didn't have as much character development in this book as in the others, but I did enjoy seeing her new confidence and lack of shame of her cyborg parts. I also really liked seeing her have to deal with the world without her built-in computer. I honestly think that the damaging of the computer made her a stronger character, and it was after her jump of the balcony that she had the most character growth this book. I admire her decision to
Kai is not my favorite character. He hasn't had all that much character growth from the first book, but he has had some. Like I said in my paragraph about Cinder, I don't feel like their relationship is real yet, but I do think that it can (and probably will) become more real as time goes on. Throughout the series, Kai has been planning to marry Levana in an attempt to bring peace, or at least a plague antidote, to Earth, even as he is fairly aware that his marrying Lavana would result in her world domination. I found it somewhat frustrating that he still had that plan in this book, but at least he was only doing it in order to distract Levana and help Cinder. I also appreciated the fact that he finally showed some open defiance to Levana, even though he still had reason to fear her reprisal.
I like Iko's character. Mostly. It's hard not to like her bubbly nature and love of fancy things, but I still find her somewhat difficult to identify with because she, in some ways, isn't real. She is a robot who's program was accidentally set to think she's human. Still, if I suspend my disbelief then I can really enjoy her character and the fact that she's the main cause of humor in these books (even more than Thorne, probably.)
Levana, of course, was as evil as ever. I don't think that Levana is right in the head. When you don't hear her point of view you can believe that she was just evil, but after reading Fairest, I came to believe that Levana had some wires crossed, which really makes me feel bad for her, even as I hate how evil she let herself become. Also, forgetting the fact that she's an evil-minded lunatic who wants to take over earth, can we all just feel how creepy it is that Levana is at least thirty-five years old and working to marry Kai who is, how old again? Seventeen? Eighteen? And before Kai's father died she'd been trying to marry him? I guess with all of her other nasty, evil, creepy, nutcase doings, it shouldn't be so bizarre that she was willing to do that too.
Overall I really liked this book. One comment, though, is that
Overall I thought that this book, and this series was amazing and I can't wait to read more books by Marissa Meyer.
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Subjects
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Young Adult — 2017)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2016)
Original publication date
2015-11-10
Other editions
Winter by Marissa Meyer (Hardcover)