#Fairest Blog Tour: My Epic Re-Listen of the Lunar Chronicles + Giveaway

I am super-duper excited to be a part of the blog tour celebrating the release of Fairest later this month. Admittedly, I wasn't on the Cinder bandwagon when everyone else was, but reviews and the fanaticism of other readers forced me to give it a chance, and now it's one of my favorite series. I'm not sure how to feel about the evil villain getting her very own book, but I am sure that if anyone can convince me her story is worth telling, it's Marissa Meyer. I just hope she doesn't make Queen Levana too redeemable, or I'll have a hard time with everything that's about to go down in Winter later this year. And you know some serious stuff is about to happen!

In anticipation of the release of each book in this series, I always do a re-listen of the books up to this point, and the release of Fairest is no different. Fairest is a bridge story between Cress and Winter, and I expect to learn a lot about the evil Queen Levana from this book: her motivations, her desires, her fears. It's definitely going to be a bit of a departure from the rest of the series. I can't wait! And to prepare myself for Fairest's imminent arrival, I recently re-listened to Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress. You'll find my thoughts below, in addition to an amazing giveaway for those same books in paperback.


Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator(s): Rebecca Soler
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, book #1
Length: 10 hrs 6 min
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Cinder Recap...or fangirl-y thoughts, whatever:

I loved Cinder pretty much from the beginning -- once I finally got around to starting this series -- and I think I love her just that much more with every re-read/listen I do of this series. She sacrifices so much, does so much for those she cares for, not even knowing who she really is or what she's capable of. I had her character pegged for so much more pretty early on because it was obvious to me that she was destined for so much more. Her character arc is still my favorite.

Oh, and I could have sworn that this book was the one that introduced us to Captain Carswell Thorne. Oh, well. This is why a re-read is necessary sometimes. So many lovely characters and storylines to keep track of. =)

Original review here.

Title: Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Narrator(s): Rebecca Soler

Series: The Lunar Chronicles, book #2

Length: 11 hrs 9 min

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Publication Date: February 5, 2013

Source: purchased audiobook/received from publisher for review

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Scarlet Recap...or fangirl-y thoughts, whatever:

I have always adored the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. But didn't you ever wonder if the BBW was really as bad as we were led to believe? I think that's why I enjoyed this sequel so much...because it explores motivations and willpower and having the gumption to fight the wicked instilled in oneself.

Of all of the characters in the Lunarverse so far, Scarlet is the one I'd most want to be like. She just wants to find her grandmother and go back to her happy little life. But she's a pilot and a fighter. Maybe not in the way that Wolf is a fighter, but even so, she can hold her own. And she deserves major props for forging ahead when others would shy away from the kind of mission she sets out on.

Original review here.


Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Narrator(s):  Rebecca Soler
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, book #3
Length:  15 hrs 40 mins
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Source: purchased audiobook, ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

My Cress Recap...or fangirl-y thoughts, whatever:

I'm glad to see that each of the previous MC's in this series doesn't just suddenly drop off the face of the planet -- or moon -- because a new one has arrived on the scene. Meyer does a fantastic job of weaving all of these damsels in distress together into one cohesive storyline that I just can't get enough of.

I've always loved the story of Rapunzel and that amazing tangle of hair. I also love the idea of her being a programmer. I mean, girls really need to see more of that type of thing in their literature, ya know? (I even saw a program for teenage girls in Austin, completely free, no experience necessary, and you can't believe how giddy I was. If my daughter showed interest in such a field, I'd do whatever was necessary to make it happen.)

So, by this point, we have a cyborg who's become pretty adept at everything that's been thrown her way though she's still more than a little uncomfortable with it all, a farm girl who was willing to go to great lengths for the love of another, and a "shell" who's demonstrated great intelligence when it comes to hacking and programming -- and all are doing their best to subvert the Lunar Queen.

Original review here.

My thoughts on the series as a whole:

Overall, I am seriously impressed with the author's ability to take several fairy tales and roll them all up into one gigantic revolutionary sci-fi tale. You wouldn't believe how many people I've turned on to this series -- all doubters like me. But once you start that first book, you're hooked, and there's nothing you can do about it.

The Retellings:

I don't know that I can pick a favorite, based on which story is being retold. Cinder is based on Cinderella, Scarlet is based on Little Red Riding Hood, and Cress is straight from Rapunzel. I love ALL of those stories. All of these girls seem to be damsels in distress, whether in their original glory or as they're retold in this series, but they're not really. These are take-charge femme fatales in disguise. But so far as their stories are being retold, I think Meyer hit the nail on the head, making a lot of changes to fit within the world she's created but keeping the souls of those characters intact.

The Ships:

I love Cinder and Kai together as much as the next girl, especially as his predisposed feelings toward her people -- cyborg and Lunar, alike -- seem to change. And I adore Scarlet and Wolf's romance, especially with everything that they've been through together and how devoted to one another they are. And sure, Carswell Thorne is a catch on any day...that Cress is one lucky lady.

But my favorite ship in this Lunarverse is Captain Thorne and Cinder. I know their relationship is platonic, but I always hoped it would be more like the Han and Leia type of romance...that slow hate-to-love burn that develops over time. I know it's not headed in that direction, and that's okay. A girl can dream. :) But it's been done before, so whatever. :P

The Villain:

Never have I read about such an irredeemable villain as Queen Levana. I thought it was pretty obvious where her story was headed, but I never questioned where it all began. Maybe if she'd had a shred of humanity to her -- unlikely since she isn't human -- I'd have cared more about her backstory. Luckily for us, the author does think her story is worth telling, and so we get the next book in this series before the finale. I really hope there's something more to Levana than just the ego-trip she seems to be on, but I also hope she doesn't have a redeemable bone in her body because it will make it that much harder to witness what happens to her in Winter, especially if Cinder and the others catch wind of it. Either way, I cannot wait to get my hands on Fairest. Now that I've relistened to the entire series again, I'm even more excited to see where Levana comes from and where her motivations lie.

The Audiobooks:

Dude, if you haven't listened to a book narrated by Rebecca Soler, you're seriously missing out. I think these books are THAT much better because I listened to them on audio. And they're pretty fabulous in text. If you ever get the chance to revisit the series via audiobook, take it. You won't have wasted your time.

Oh, and if you're still not convinced, you can check out a few short stories from Marissa Meyer in this series on Wattpad. My original reviews of Glitches and The Queen's Army are here.

What are you waiting for?!? Scroll down and enter the giveaway so you can start reading the Lunar Chronicles and discover the epicness for yourself!

But first, more on Fairest:

Title: Fairest
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles, book #3.5
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: January 27, 2015

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.

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, I've got a set of the Lunar Chronicles to give away, which includes a paperback of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress.

Rules:

• This giveaway is US/CAN only. The publisher will be providing the prize for this giveaway.
• One entry per household. 
• Entries will be verified. Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant. 
• Winner will be notified via email. Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. Please check your SPAM folder!!! 
• We are not responsible for lost packages. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks for sharing in my excitement in anticipation of Fairest's release on January 27th. Want more? You can:

• Become a fan of the Lunar Chronicles on Facebook!
• Become a fan of Marissa Meyer on Facebook!
• Follow Marissa Meyer on Twitter!
• Become a fan of the Lunar Chronicles on Tumblr, where you can access Marissa’s tour schedule, wallpaper, the first page of Fairest, and more!

And be sure to check out the rest of the tour for reviews of the first book in the series, re-reads, playlists, tour recaps, and more!

The Lunar Chronicles Blog Tour Schedule

Monday January 5

The Starry-Eyed Revue

Tuesday January 6

Snuggly Oranges

Wednesday January 7

A Perfection Called Books

Thursday January 8

Icey Books

Friday January 9

The Book Addict’s Guide

Monday January 12

YA Bibliophile

Tuesday January 13

Alexa Loves Books

Wednesday January 14

Forever Young Adult

Thursday January 15

Writer of Wrongs

Friday January 16

Cuddlebuggery

Monday January 19

Paper Riot

Tuesday January 20

Great Imaginations

Wednesday January 21

Belle of the Literati

Thursday January 22

Adventures of a Book Junkie

Friday January 23

Good Books and Good Wine

Happy reading!