Crib Notes-The Lunar Chronicles

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer are futuristic retellings of classic fairy tales. In Cinder, a teenage cyborg, half human, half machine, must deal with a wicked stepmother, start a rebellion against the evil Queen Levana, and decide how she feels about a handsome prince. As the series continues, Cinder forges alliances with Scarlet, a spaceship pilot who is determined to solve the mystery of a missing loved one with the help of a magnetic street fighter named Wolf; Cress, a computer hacker who is imprisoned by Queen Levana; and Winter, a princess who's in love with a commoner, and who discovers that Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress may hold the key to saving her kingdom and the world.

An exceptional reimagining of a fairy tale, myth or classic novel stays true to the spirit of the story while offering up a reading experience that is wholly unrivaled. Further, they should delight the reader in their attempt to suss out the parallels to the origin story. This series exceeds those basic tenets in every way imaginable, and some not!   

Turning the stories of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White on their head and giving them new tales to tell. And better still, the author weaves those tales together into another that entwines them all, by far the finest aspect of the series.

This author does a brilliant job of luring the reader into a world unknown to them while giving them the comfort of keeping company with characters that evoke a comforting sense of nostalgia. If you are looking for a read that can transport you to another world and make you cheer for some badass women, these books will not disappoint!

The Books In Brief:

Cinder (Cinderella)

Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen, and a dangerous temptation. Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future.

Scarlet (Red Riding Hood)

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second installment of the 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. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Cress (Rapunzel)

Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her net screens 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 of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has. 

Winter (Snow White)

Princess Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She’s said to be even more breath-taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana. When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter claim their happily ever after’s by defeating Levana once and for all?