A review by jules1278
Cress by Marissa Meyer

5.0

I wish I knew what to say about these books that is at all coherent. I have never read any fairy tale reimagining that was as well-thought-out or as unique of an idea as these. The world building is SO good. Everything makes sense for the far future after two more world wars have devastated the earth (and even all the Lunar stuff seems less crazy while you're reading), and the characters are three dimensional and for the most part, brilliant. I can't even say I like the second book any less (because I don't care as much about Scarlet and Wolf as I do about Cinder and Cress and Thorne--my favorite character) because Cinder's story didn't end. The sequels continue the main storyline but just add Scarlet and Cress, giving them their own titles, and adding in their points of view (along with Wolf and Thorne and the doctor, etc.), but keeping Cinder and Kai. I really like that nothing is all tied up at the end of any of the books so far. The only thing I will say has kept me from giving five stars is the complete lack of anyone figuring out anything as early as the reader does (I hope.) It doesn't even distract me anymore because I've come to expect that the characters will just keep insisting on waiting until the last minute to figure anything out. It doesn't make me dislike the books at all and I don't think the author is dumbing it down for us (like Dan Brown does), but sometimes when characters just keep coming up with crazier and crazier theories other than the truth that seems so obvious, I just want to shake them. :p I laughed out loud all the time reading these, and I cried a little in this one which surprised me, but I love it. I can't wait for the fourth book to come out next year.