Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Winter

A perfect ending to a fantastic series. I'm going to miss it...

Also. Winter & Jacin > everyone else. I freaking love them.

Winter's story also has the most clever parallels to her fairytale as well (in my humble opinion). Cinder is a close second, but I think Winter's story is a lot more exciting.

The revolution is a bit challenging, as it (understandably) has to wrap up every bit of convoluted plot line and can be a bit anxiety-inducing. Sometimes you genuinely feel that the characters are about to die and/or lose.

The last chapters are done in the way of the movie version of the Return of the King - where we get to see each person's ending. It is a bit saccharine, but in the perfect way that modern fairy tales are.

I was glad to see Cress & Thorne finally be solid. It was frustrating to read their back-and-forth in book 3, but there are some PERFECTLY written scenes between the two of them in this one. Also, can I just say that I love the mild allusion to other versions of Rapunzel? Like how Thorne stabs Cress in the side just like Mother Gothel stabs Flynn in Tangled?

I did struggle a bit when it was revealed that Levana has a disfigured face. Mostly because I don't understand how cyborgs are a reality but plastic surgery isn't? But more than that, it seemed like a weak/frustrating plot device, one that goes against the whole idea of Snow White (that the Evil Queen *is* in fact gorgeous on the outside, but can't understand that her *heart* is ugly). Still not anything worth docking stars for.

Seriously. So. Good.

I don't factor audiobook narrators' performances into my overall star rating, but I would give Rebecca Soler a 4/5 for this one. As previously stated in my other reviews of books 1-3, I got used to her slightly different voices and grew to appreciate them, especially certain characters. There were still some pieces that should have been re-recorded due to minor errors, but again, that feels like it should be on whoever did the mixing and production. But the one thing that really made me dock that extra half star compared to last time, was Winter's voice. She is voiced like a baby, and it was grating on my ears. I also don't appreciate the infantilization of a character who is 17 with a love interest who is 19. It just feels icky. I think she could have come across as "crazy" yet "alluring" and "innocent" without being voiced as a child.

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melissaslibraryy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As sad as I am to let this series go for a second time, I’m so glad everyone got their HEA 🥹🫶 The Lunar Chronicles is one of the first main series I read back in middle school when I started getting into more fantasy and world-building chapter books so the nostalgia I feel rereading it as a 20-year old is palpable.

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laneelizabeth's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Firstly, the level of sarcasm, sass, and overall snarkiness from every single character in this book is so incredible. Marissa Meyer deserves so many awards just for that. Also, the found family is unmatched in anything else I've read. The set up of Luna and how it is run is reminiscent of Panem from the Hunger Games, and I actually appreciate that because it gave me something to compare it to in my mind and made it easier to understand.

Incorporating Adri and Pearl back into the story was seamless and so important to the ending. I didn't see it coming and I had no idea where she was going with it, but boy did she make it work!

Getting Levana's point of view more often in this book, especially after "Fairest" really solidifies the dislike for her character and we can see how twisted her thinking is and how delusional she is even from her own point of view.

I am glad that in the end, the revolution became as much Winter's as Cinder's. She deserved it so much. And I am glad that we got to see Cinder and Levana finally have a civil conversation (even if it didn't end very well). Also, we all knew Cinder was a great leader- we saw it- but now shes proven to be an amazing ruler as well, and especially because she's not afraid to be new at it. She's okay with asking for help and i think that is really important for someone who didn't grow up royal i think the people will respect her more for it.

Working Émilie back into the story was such a thoughtful touch that Im really glad she added.

I didn't want this story to end. I want to stay in this little fictional world. Also, with someone who has a chronic illness that has complicated so many things in my life, I really feel that this is one fantasy world I could survive in (if only with the support from the Rampion crew)

Now. Mrs. Meyer. I need a novella for Iko and Kinney to fall in love as well. Please and Thank you

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amschelly153's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed this series. It’s a fun retelling, and it seemed like a good political and somewhat action packed young adult series series.

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caeliaucoin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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bean_7088's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The thrilling end!
!Spoilers ahead!

Sometimes I forget that these are YA and that often means pining teenagers, and boy is there a lot. It gets very annoying especially when it's the possessive teen romance tropes. I really don't like the whole Wolf growling just because Scarlet is talking to someone else 🙄 or Cress being mad at Thorne when he kissed someone when she knew he was really manipulated and assaulted.

I really didn't like Winter using her gift the way she did. I get it, but I didn't like it, and think that there was probably a better way to deal with that situation.

I'm also surprised how little the whole lunar gift was talked-about for how it was dealt with on a day to day regular basis. Like how does a society that has those kind of abilities really function?
Speaking of, I'm surprised that the whole Winter never using her gift and that convincing a whole bunch of people to join them never came up again considering Cinder had killed a bunch of people by then and also threatened to punish some that didn't obey her...
Also wasn't super comfortable with some of the description and reactions to Levanas burn scars and some of the plot around that.

Anyways. I'm glad it got a neat ribbon for all the characters, but that also feels less realistic. I'm all for happy endings, but the bitter sweet ones always feel more fulfilling to me.

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