Cress

Starred review from December 9, 2013
This third of four books in Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles has no shortage of humor, action, or romance, and the author still delivers the clever fairy-tale twists her readers expect. Cress, a self-proclaimed “damsel in distress,” has been imprisoned in an orbiting satellite for more than seven years, and has never been allowed to cut her hair, which has grown to Rapunzel-like lengths. Though Cress—an expert hacker—is supposed to be tracking down the fugitive Linh Cinder for Lunar Queen Levana, Cress has been secretly aiding her. When Cinder and her crew try to rescue Cress, the plan goes awry, leaving Cinder’s group scattered and fighting for survival. Meyer continues to show off her storytelling prowess, keeping readers engaged in a wide cast of characters while unfolding a layered plot that involves warring governments and a fast-spreading plague. The momentum Meyer built in the first two books continues to accelerate as the stakes grow higher for Cinder and her friends. The next installment cannot come fast enough. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

xxpish - Cress has been trapped in a satellite for 7 years. She is the evil Queen Levana’s computer programmer and hacker, and yearns to get out of the satellite. So, when she gets in contact with Cinder and her crew, she jumps at the chance to leave. But all of a sudden, a quick turn of events has them all separated from each other. Cress and Thorne are stuck in a falling satellite. Cinder and Wolf are in Africa. Scarlet is trapped with the thaumaturge, heading to Luna. As Cress’s story starts and intertwines with Cinder and Scarlet’s, action, adventure and suspense rise with Kai and Levana’s wedding coming up and Cinder’s gang trying to figure out a way to stop the evil queen. The third installment of The Lunar Chronicles, fans of Cinder and Scarlet will devour this mixed-up futuristic Rapunzel retelling. My thoughts: Cress is a fabulous threequel. It introduces Cress (Rapunzel), who has been alone most of her life and has never been to Earth while continuing the story of the characters introduced in Cinder and Scarlet. It has steady rising action and builds excitement for the last installment, Winter. With a unique plot and a well-developed world, this series takes fairytales to a whole new level—dystopian and sci-fi. It’s just so cool seeing the aspects of the original fairytale taken to this whole new level and seamlessly stitched into the fabric of the futuristic world. Needless to say, I am in love with this series. The idea is just brilliant. I can’t wait for Fairest and Winter, and I can’t wait to see what Marissa Meyer will do next!