Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Title: Fairest
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3.5
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: January 27th, 2015
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Oh my gosh, I've waited so long for this book. The Lunar Chronicles, I had originally put off for a while. I just was not interested in them at all. But they were so well loved by EVERYONE, that I just had to try them. My friend Jess and I had decided to make them buddy reads.. so we read them all back to back. 

So when it came out.. we had to do a buddy read. It's been hard lately, being as busy as I am, and as busy as she is.. but we came together and got this one done. My goodness I miss reading with her. And what a fantastic book to start out with after our lull. 

If you thought that Queen Levana was crazy after reading Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress.. well you were right. lol. But crazy might not be a strong enough word to describe her. And heck, her whole family. 

There are so many things that I loved about Fairest. One being the length. This is no half ass novella. It's got girth! Some novellas are kinda pointless. They give you a tiny bit of insight, but they are mainly to tide you over until the next installment. Fairest is so much more than that. 

The most important thing that I loved is getting to know Levana. At times I really felt bad for her. We learn where her obsession with no mirrors stems from. We learn why she's F'd up in the first place. We learn so freaking much! It's a hear breaking punch to the gut. Nothing excuses her for the horrors she's unleashed through out her life, but I understand what has made her the monster she is. 

Also, we learn a little bit about Winter, and I don't know about you all, but I cannot freaking wait to get my hands on that book. 

I loved Fairest so much.. SOO SOOOOOO Much. <3 These books are awesome. 

About the author:

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

Find Marissa:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Labels: cinder, crazy, cress, fariest, favorites, feiwel & friends, lunar chronicles, marissa meyer, novellas, retellings, reviews, scarlet

Review: Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Title: Trial By Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series:  The Worldwalker Trilogy #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: September 2nd, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

This is the first work by Josephine Angelini that I've picked up. I own her whole Starcrossed Trilogy (because omg they are so pretty) but I still haven't found the time to give them a shot. I had trouble with Trial by Fire, honestly. I feel bad for this, because it's all me and not the book at all. I read until about 50 percent, and gave up. I do plan to pick it up again in the future but I'm just so distracted lately, and this is a book you really have to pay attention to.

What I read of Trial by Fire, I did like. It's very well written, and interesting. But it's confusing, there is a lot going on, A whole other dimension/world that your thrust into. And as interesting as that is, my poor over worked brain had a hard time keeping up. I found myself paging back trying to figure out what was going on.

What I did like, were the witches. This time of year is the perfect time to read about witches and this story has a bit of a creepy feel to it, at least the parts I got to.

I'm going to rate this one a 3 because I wasn't able to finish it. I'd almost give it a four, just because my only issues were my lack of ability to concentrate right now. Fluffy reads it is.. for the the foreseeable future! Seriously, give this one a shot if you're into paranormal stuff.

About the author:


Josephine Angelini is a Massachusetts native and the youngest of eight siblings. She graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in theater, with a focus on the classics. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Find Josephine:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: feiwel & friends, josephine angelini, reviews, The worldwalker trilogy, trial by fire