This was a good month for reading. (Finally! ) I finished up The Lunar Chronicles, I checked a few books off Erin’s Challenge, and I started into Meyer’s newest novel, Heartless. Today I’m linking up with Steph and Jana for Show Us Your Books!
As you know, here’s the rating system…
and I include a brief summary, why I picked up the book, and what I thought. Then I give my oh-so-valuable opinion on whether or not you should read it and why. Images link to their GoodReads page (let’s be friends!).
. . .
Winter by Marissa Meyer | ★★★★★/5 
Summary: The fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles… It’s now or never as Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, Thorne, and Iko bring the battle to evil Queen Levana’s doorstep. Add a crazy lunar princess (Winter) and a stubborn but loyal royal guard (Jacin). What will it cost for goodness and kindness to overcome manipulation and power? | Why I Read It: Because I’m obsessed with this series. Duh. | What I Thought: My heart has shattered into a million pieces. Not because this story was sad, but because upon closing the back cover I immediately missed my friends. Originally I thought +800 pages sounded intimidating. When I got to page 300 I wondered how there was more to the story. Around page 600 things were getting cray. At 823 I found myself wishing for a thousand more pages and a million more words to keep the adventure going. Yes, my friends, this series is that wonderful. It’s fantasy and YA and the retelling of several fairy tales. If ANY of those things appeal to you, go start on this series. Adventure, romance, strong women and men, good verses evil, self-discovery, fantastic world development – this series has it all. I am devastated it’s over. (If you don’t believe me go look at Goodreads– all the books rate above 4 stars.)
You Should Read It Because… you enjoy a good futuristic/fantasy story. Actually, I never read futuristic stories and I loved this series. It was similar to HP in terms of friendship and growth and overcoming evil. If you love a good series, go read these right now.
(Other LC reviews: Cinder | Scarlet | Cress )
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer | ★★★★/5 
This book was a collection of 9 short stories surrounding the four main books of The Lunar Chronicles. It’s easiest to sum them up individually…
The Keeper: A short backstory about Scarlet’s grand-mère and the role she played in raising and encouraging a Lunar revolution.
Glitches [reviewed here]
The Queen’s Army [reviewed here] *
Carswell’s Guide to Being Luck [reviewed here] *
After Sunshine Passes By: When we meet Cress she’s locked in a satellite, monitoring (read: spying) on Earth. But how did she get there…?
The Princess & The Guard*: Winter is such a complicated character- her childhood in the palace and her relation with Jacin is revealed and explained in this tale.
The Little Android [reviewed here]
The Mechanic: In Cinder we learned how she and Kai met… but only from her point of view. This short story follows Kai’s experience in the busy marketplace that day.
Something Old, Something New *: Time has passed and the Rampion crew is back together on Earth. This reads like an extended epilogue.
What I Thought: I love these back stories on all the characters. Some are a little long and some seem slightly unnecessary (since the books cover so much), but I can’t get enough of this series (obviously ), so it’s ok. My favorite ones are asterisk-ed.
You Should Read It Because… You’re reading/have read the four main books. Marissa Meyer recommends reading the books/stories in this order.
Ok. I’m done talking about The Lunar Chronicles. For a minute.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle | ★★★/5 
(Listened to on Audible; Narrated by Hope Davis)
Summary: After their father’s suspicious disappearance, 12-year-old Meg Murray and her youngest brother Charles Wallace come across the path of three odd women: Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Witch. Together with their friend Calvin, the three children are whisked away and sent on a journey to find Mr. Murray. | Why I Read It: I had the book as a kid, but I never read it. I picked it up this time to fulfill a category in Erin’s reading challenge. | What I Thought: I had no idea this was considered a “children’s classic” and I didn’t realize that L’Engle was a Christian writer. Neither of those things matter in the grand scheme of this review, though. I listened to this book all in one shot while driving from Fairfax, VA to my town in Ohio. It was entertaining and it kept my interest the entire drive, but it didn’t blow my mind or change my life. I really liked Charles Wallace and I thought the overall message of the story was sweet and simple, but there were things that seemed too convenient and moments that dragged on just a bit. It’s targeted at kids and it’s considered a classic, so reviewing it is kind of tough.
You Should Read It Because… you enjoy children’s literature or Christian-based (fantasy) story-telling. Meg was a flawed but strong female protagonist which is rare for a religious sci-fi novel from 1962. Also, if you’re a strict book-before-movie person you might want to check this out. They’re currently filming this with Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, & Oprah Winfrey.
Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer, Illustrated by Douglas Holgate | ★★★★★/5 
Summary: With tension between Luna and Earth still high, the once-servant-turned-hero android Iko volunteers to take on the rogue hybrid-wolf packs plaguing Earth. | Why I Read It: This is Meyer’s first graphic novel and takes place after Winter. | What I Thought: Aces and stars, I love this series. I loved reading this in Iko’s voice. I loved getting a follow-up with each character and getting to see Holgate’s/Meyer’s illustrations. (I was nervous they wouldn’t match my mental image, but they did for the most part.) I loved how light this story felt, but at the same time I experienced fear and anger and joy for the characters. The only thing I hated is how long I have to wait for volume 2… *sigh*
You Should Read It Because… you read all the other books in The Lunar Chronicles and you loved them. I recommend reading the series before cracking open this graphic novel.
So…. here’s the update with Erin’s Challenge:
| 5 points | Freebie: Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber
| 10 points | Starts with the letter “W”: Winter by Marissa Meyer
| 10 points | Six words in the title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
| 15 points | Has a (mostly) green cover: The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
| 20 points | A homonym in the title: The One by Kiera Cass
| 20 points | By your favorite author: Heartless by Marissa Meyer
| 25 points | Set in the city/town/state/territory/county/province where you live: The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
| 30 points | A “Rory Gilmore” book: Atonement by Ian McEwan
| 30 points | From a genre that you’ve never read/rarely read (*thriller*): The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
| 35 points | With time travel: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I’m at 85 out of 200 points. I won’t be attempting the bonus round this time, fyi 😉 I’ve got a month and a half left to finish!
What’d you read this month?
Life as Louise 
You keep doing better and better each challenge. That’s awesome!
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Thank you! It’s encouraging that I keep reading more and more with each one 🙂
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alright, i keep seeing the lunar chronicles and now i will add this to my TBR list. i’m looking for a new series (red rising was my last and i LOVED that) so hopefully, this will also be good!
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Based on the reviews I’ve read from Red Rising I would say The Lunar Chronicles are a little more YA and a little less violent, but I would still recommend them to almost anyone 🙂
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i will never be done talking about the lunar chronicles. hahaha. The Mechanic and Something Old, Something New were my favourites from Stars Above. I think I’d read most of the others as they were released individually, so when Stars Above came out I only read the new to me ones. But oh, Winter. I feel you. I was like 800 pages?! and it took awhile for me to be like where is this going? and then by like page 800 I was like NEVER LEAVE ME PLEASE. that is a series I’d happily reread. I reread them before Winter came out but I think I’m due for another reread.
oh man, A Wrinkle in Time was on my list but the Christian writer/story kind of throws me. Maybe I’ll just wait for the movie (sacrilege!)
I had never heard of Wires and Nerve. Obviously I need to read it.
Heartless is on my shelf at home. I’m scared. haha. you’ll have to let me know if you love it!
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Hahahaha- let’s be real. I probably won’t be either 🙂
Winter was SUCH a rollercoaster, but I guess it had to be with +800 pages to fill. Every time there was a climax I was like, ‘Wait… how are we going to get out of this one?!’ and then the end happened. *sob*
I honestly think I’d have enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time better if I’d have read it. Oh well. Everyone can’t always like everything. Ha.
Wires and Nerve was super quick! And so far I really, really like Heartless 🙂
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I love/hate that feeling when you finish a book and you are so sad because you just want to live in that world forever.
I read (many times) and loved Wrinkle in Time as a kid as well as the sequels – There is also one about Meg/CW’s twin brothers that I really liked too – But it’s been years so I wonder how they’d hold up if I re-read them now.
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Ugh. That is the EXACT emotion I felt at the end of Winter. It sounds like the graphic novels are going to be a series, though, so at least I have something to look forward to 🙂
I’ve thought about working my way through the sequels, but I’m not sure it’s something I want to spend time on. The (audio)book just wasn’t my cup of tea.
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I read Winter & Stars Above this month too! Still haven’t gotten my hands on Wires & Nerves but it’s coming. Although, I will be a little sad because then TLC will be officially over 😦
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Wires and Nerve is “volume 1” so I’m very hopefully there will be (many) more to follow 😀
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I could talk about the Lunar Chronicles all day and night, and I haven’t in awhile, so I was happy to read your thoughts. Winter was such an incredible book and I really enjoyed the short stories too. SO swoon-worthy!!! Such an amazing series. I haven’t read Heartless yet, but someday I’m sure I will pick it up. I loved A Wrinkle in Time as a kid and I hope to re-read it soon, or maybe wait and read it aloud to my daughter. Her books are fantastic.
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Ugh- it hurts my heart to know that the magic of The Lunar Chronicles is over for me. (At least for now.) I really hope Meyer is quick to release new and many volumes of the graphic novels. I don’t really do graphic novels but I most definitely will keep up with TLC ones.
I think I will revisit A Wrinkle in Time someday when I (hopefully) read it to my future kids. I think that’d be a good time to give it another shot.
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I remember trying to read A Wrinkle in Time when I was younger and I didn’t finish it because I didn’t like it, but I can’t remember why (maybe the time travel?) and now I’m kind of intrigued to maybe try to read it again. It looks like you are doing an awesome job with the reading challenge.
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I think I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d have physically read it. But I’m not confident I’d have kept with it if I’d have physically read it. Lol.
Thank you! This is the best I’ve done on a challenge so far!
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OK… now that the Lunar Chronicles is done – I’ve got to start reading it now. I just hate waiting for a book in a series but now, I can plow through!! I’m excited to dive in!
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Yeah, girl! Tackle that series! (If only there was Belle character!) All the main books are out. Now Meyer is working on graphic novels. But you don’t need those at all to enjoy the series!
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I didn’t realize there were other books around the Lunar Chronicles other than the main ones. I just need to get around to it!! I have a feeling it will be one of those series I need to be in the mood for but will enjoy the binge once I am.
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There are the four main books, then Fairest (which should technically be read before Winter), and then Stars Above- which is a collection of 9 short stories surrounding the series.
And Meyer just release a graphic novel called Wires and Nerve that focuses on Iko and is set after the series ends 🙂
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Hooray for all the Lunar Chronicles! I almost never like short stories, but I liked Stars Above because I just wanted more of the characters. I was going to be sad that you didn’t love A Wrinkle in Time and then I realized I don’t know if I’d like it if I read it for the first time now. I’ve liked it since I was a teenager, and that definitely colors your perception of things.
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I can’t remember the last time I read a bunch of short stories, but Stars Above was totally worth it.
I think I’d have enjoyed A Wrinkle… more if I’d have physically read it. I’ll probably give it another shot someday, but for now it’s not really my thing. Lol.
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All the raves about The Lunar Chronicles almost makes me want to read the books but I don’t like fantasy so i’d start it with a bad attitude.
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Hahahaha. Yeah… it does have a pretty strong fantasy element. That said, I don’t like futuristic books and I love the series. The fantasy part is unavoidable, though.
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I’m so glad that you loved Winter! Even though it was such a long book, I totally didn’t want it to end! I still haven’t read Stars Above, but I’m hoping to read it soon. I’m at about the same place that you are with Erin’s Challenge, so I’m thinking no bonus round for me either.
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I don’t know about you, but this is the best I’ve done with Erin’s challenge! (So congrats to you since I consider this an achievement! 🙂 Ha!) I loved Winter. I have about 70 pages left in Meyer’s new one Heartless and I’m very curious to see how it ends.
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Once again, so so impressed you’re such a prolific reader! I’m over here still plugging away through The Rosie Project. (I forget, have you read that?)
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Wow… I would definitely not call myself a prolific reader! (But thank you!) I have not read The Rosie Project, but I’ve heard great things about it! It honestly takes me forever to get through a book! The only reason I tackled Winter so quickly was because I read for a few hours at a time on our flights last month 🙂
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A Wrinkle in Time is going to be my bonus round time travel book! Also, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Oprah being cast in the movie is surprising to me. I didn’t expect it to be so diverse!
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After I finished the book I started googling things about it (which I tend to do after 85% of all books I read… lol) and found that they were making it into a movie. Technically it’s been made into a movie, but it was a long time ago. I follow Mindy Kaling on IG and saw that she’s been posting pics with Reese from New Zealand, too. Which is where I assume they’re filming.
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Lord, it’s been decades since I read A Wrinkle in Time. That took me back.
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Similar to my experience with The Halloween Tree, it’s a book I wish I would’ve read when I was younger.
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The Lunar Chronicles! So much love that series. I really enjoyed Stars Above, which surprised me a bit because short stories typically aren’t my favorite. I also really liked The Princess and the Guard. It help me “get” their bond a bit more because Winter had so much going on that their relationship got a bit shortchanged in my mind. I did not realize there was a graphic novel featuring Iko. I don’t normally read graphic novels but I might have to make an exception here because I love Iko! Adding Wires and Nerves to my TBR!
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In my opinion, the graphic novel fell right in line with the whole series. It also seemed totally appropriate to give Iko a graphic novel because that’s just her personality 😉 There is definitely a “to be continued…” at the end of Wires and Nerve so I’m excited to get more Lunar Chronicles in the future!
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I really need to finish The Lunar Chronicles soon. I’ve been so into read all my NetGalley books that I forgot I still need to read some of them!
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Winter was a pretty thick book, but totally worth it! You should definitely finish the series if you were enjoying them!
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A Wrinkle in Time! I haven’t read that in years. I might need to pick that up again.
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I think I’d like to try it again some day and physically read it. Maybe when we have kids I’ll use it as a bedtime story. That seems appropriate. Lol.
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Yay for finishing The Lunar Chronicles. I’ve read through Fairest and I own Winter, so I need to read that soon and then get Stars Above and Wires and Nerve. I own Heartless as well. I’m so behind. haha
I hadn’t read A Wrinkle in Time until graduate school but I enjoyed it! I read the graphic novel version of it too which is well done.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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I seriously soaked up that series and just couldn’t quit 🙂 I actually made myself wait until January to read Winter because I kept neglecting other books on my TBR list. Ha.
I might have to check out the graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time!
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I had no idea they were making a movie version of A Wrinkle in Time! I loved that book as a kid, and the casting choices sound fun!
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I like to Goodreads/google books after I finish them and I found out about the new movie that way! 🙂
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awww you just gave me all the warm fuzzies seeing ” a wrinkle in time” and i didn’t know they were making a movie version! i just finished ‘the night circus’ (yes, always late to the party) and i realllly liked it!
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I haven’t read The Night Circus! We can start a “late to the party” club because I’m almost always behind in what’s hip with literature (and fashion and movies and everything, ha).
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ohemgeeeee! I loooved the Lunar Chonicles. So glad you finished and enjoyed it so much too! I just got another friend to start reading them and she hasn’t read in years. Said she’d be slow. She’s almost done and it’s been… maybe 2 weeks…?! LOL I cannot wait to read Wires & Nerves. I looooved Iko so much! I have an IRL friend who loved it too! XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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I recommend this series to literally everyone. Ha. I got my cousin started on it, and once my mom is off school for the summer I will be forcing her to read them all. Hahaha! 😀
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Your rating system looks a lot like mine! I don’t give out 5 starts a whole lot 😉 Can you believe that I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever read A Wrinkle in Time? Seriously! I need to get on that
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Hahahahaha- I really don’t usually give out 5 stars that often, but this series is just fantastic. Ha! I feel like I overused exclamation points or something and now the 5 stars mean nothing. Hahahaha.
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You’re doing really well with the challenge! Is this the most points you’ve accumulated ever? Keep it up!
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Thanks, Elyse!! It is!! I’m so pleased! I really hope I finish all the books in time! 😀
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I’ve had Lunar Chronicles on my TR list forever and need to pick them up. Especially since the series is complete.
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Yes, girl! If they’re already something you’re interested in then I would tell you to absolutely go start 😀
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I really have to read Lunar Chronicles because you have said so many great things about it. I liked A Wrinkle in Time, but I think I would have liked it more if I read it for the first time when I was younger. I had no idea that a movie was coming out! I definitely have to see that. I’m on a huge thriller kick lately. Can’t stop wont stop.
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I totally agree about A Wrinkle in Time. I definitely think kid-Audrey would’ve really liked the story.
GO READ THE LUNAR CHRONICLES. Ha. Not a thriller series, but filled with action and kickass women! (I have The Woman in Cabin 10 on request at the library so I’ll be dipping my toes in the thriller pool soon, too!)
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Why do I feel like I’ve heard of A Wrinkle in Time? Is this an old classic?? Or did it turn into a movie lately?
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Both! (Kinda…) It’s a classic from the late 60s or early 70s… And they did a TV-movie, but right now they’re filming for a movie with Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah!
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