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noellegrace8's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The plot really saves this one for me. It's gotten so intricate at this point that it's impossible not to enjoy it! The epitome of a great storyline. So good. But I am going to rant about one piece that bothered me, but not enough to affect my rating much:
While I love Thorne SO much, and understand Cress and her lack of social interaction and therefore knowledge even if I personally find her to be a little exhausting, the *way* their romance is written really irks me. It's entirely limmerance from Cress and nothing from Thorne until random moments. These random moments are thrilling, with scenes written better than even Cinder+Kai or Scarlet+Wolf, but they're not enough to make up for the underlying underdevelopment of their actual romance throughout the rest of the book. The entirety of them crashing in the desert fell flat for me. My personal "I hate the miscommunication trope!" is, "I hate the 'I don't want to hurt her' trope!" And that's (sort of? It's unclear, and therefore infuriating, at times) what we're given from Thorne.
Hoping the 4th book quickly clears up the limmerance from Cress and intermittent apathy from Thorne. It's a WONDERFUL series.
I don't factor audiobook performance into my star ratings, but I would give Rebecca Soler a 4.5/5. At this point, I've gotten very used to her narration and voicing. As previously stated, she can be a bit too flat at times or have a tone that isn't quite right for what's described, but she's generally good at differentiating voices in scenes with accents and tones. I really like the way she voices Iko haha. It's perfect for that android! I don't understand why Soler wasn't asked to re-record a couple places where she says "kAY-toe" instead of "kEYE-toe" though.
While I love Thorne SO much, and understand Cress and her lack of social interaction and therefore knowledge even if I personally find her to be a little exhausting, the *way* their romance is written really irks me. It's entirely limmerance from Cress and nothing from Thorne until random moments. These random moments are thrilling, with scenes written better than even Cinder+Kai or Scarlet+Wolf, but they're not enough to make up for the underlying underdevelopment of their actual romance throughout the rest of the book. The entirety of them crashing in the desert fell flat for me. My personal "I hate the miscommunication trope!" is, "I hate the 'I don't want to hurt her' trope!" And that's (sort of? It's unclear, and therefore infuriating, at times) what we're given from Thorne.
Hoping the 4th book quickly clears up the limmerance from Cress and intermittent apathy from Thorne. It's a WONDERFUL series.
I don't factor audiobook performance into my star ratings, but I would give Rebecca Soler a 4.5/5. At this point, I've gotten very used to her narration and voicing. As previously stated, she can be a bit too flat at times or have a tone that isn't quite right for what's described, but she's generally good at differentiating voices in scenes with accents and tones. I really like the way she voices Iko haha. It's perfect for that android! I don't understand why Soler wasn't asked to re-record a couple places where she says "kAY-toe" instead of "kEYE-toe" though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and War
Moderate: Kidnapping, Medical content, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Child abuse, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Ableism, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Torture
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Trafficking
As this series is very political and based around a clear power imbalance, the things I sorted into "Graphic" are fundamental in this book. "Moderate" listings have mostly to do with plotpoints such as the classic Rapunzel-and-her-abusive-guardian retelling, the events that led to Cinder's current cyborg state, Thorne losing his vision, the tortured nature of Wolf/ his genetic alterations, and the general tension between Lunars and Earthens. "Minor" labels are due to Scarlet and Cress both being taken (separate contexts), the push and pull between most of the relationships in this series thus far (but particularly Wolf+Scarlet), and our brief encounter with Princess Winter. Lastly, the only reason I warned of adult-minor relationship is because I believe most of the male love interests in this series are quite a few years older than their female, teen counterparts. More importantly, Cress is said to be 16, and Thorne is most definitely an adult, likely about 20 (has served in the military and is a well-known criminal at this point) so... a bit gray.msradiosilence's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
TLDR; 3.5 rating, age gaps, and once again no setting descirptions.
Content warnings at the bottom. :)
Well, I can’t always have nice things. Once again, Meyer seems allergic to describing her settings in any detail, and once again it’s set in a culture that she, as a white woman, has no claim on. As such, and additionally with my other gripe, this is the beginning of the Lunar Chronicles downhill plummet.
Much like in Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares, I hate age gaps like the one in Cress. Cress is 16. She’s a child. And Thorne is a grown ass man. It’s especially icky because he pushes her away not because she’s a child but because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. So, gross. Hate it. Also, their miscommunication drives me nuts. I hate miscommunication plots.
I also don’t like that Dr. Erland is reveled as Cress’ dad in this book and it’s literally mentioned ONCE in the next one. I feel like that’s information that is relevant, not only to Cress but to her emotional stability in the next installment? But nope. There’s no mourning, she’s fine after finding her dad and then watching him die.
Rating: 3.5
Would I recommend? Kind of, especially if you enjoy age gaps, found family and literally found family, and sci-fi fairytale retellings.
Content warnings: Death, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Genocide, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Ableism, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Dementia, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Violence, War, Medical content, and Torture
Content warnings at the bottom. :)
Well, I can’t always have nice things. Once again, Meyer seems allergic to describing her settings in any detail, and once again it’s set in a culture that she, as a white woman, has no claim on. As such, and additionally with my other gripe, this is the beginning of the Lunar Chronicles downhill plummet.
Much like in Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares, I hate age gaps like the one in Cress. Cress is 16. She’s a child. And Thorne is a grown ass man. It’s especially icky because he pushes her away not because she’s a child but because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her. So, gross. Hate it. Also, their miscommunication drives me nuts. I hate miscommunication plots.
I also don’t like that
Rating: 3.5
Would I recommend? Kind of, especially if you enjoy age gaps, found family and literally found family, and sci-fi fairytale retellings.
Content warnings: Death, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Genocide, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Ableism, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Dementia, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Violence, War, Medical content, and Torture
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, War, Grief, Death of parent, Dementia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Child death, Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really good, just as good as the other books in the series. Even though it was a bit of a side plot, I really liked Cress and Thorne’s journey. Looking forward to the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Ableism
Moderate: War
psliz's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
felt like a catch-up book with everyone trying to reunite but i did enjoy the romance (if you ignore the uncomfortable and unnecessary age gap)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Torture, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Confinement
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Ableism, and Kidnapping
emiliaphrodite's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i know i adore this book because no matter the scene, if characters are talking, i’m in love.
buttttttt now that i’m older, my perspective on this book has really changed. kai acts like a child when he’s a literal emperor, although he does have some self-awareness, and i appreciate that. i kid you not, the way thorne treats cress while they’re in the desert? that’s the way i treat my students in ELEMENTARY.
the biggest turn-around of all is that wolf is actually my favorite now, and he and scarlet genuinely feel like the most mature characters from the crew. tall, hulking, chivalrous? yes plzzzz 🤤
i read somewhere that there are a few microaggressions in the book, and now that they’ve been pointed out to me, I can’t unsee them. someone tell me why the linh family has a vietnamese last name, practices more japanese culture, but lives in china??? i understand they’re all united under the commonwealth now, but i would’ve appreciated not having to jump through the numerous logical leaps and bounds in order to excuse this extreme blurring of asian cultures.
that doesn’t even begin the notes on ableism scattered throughout the book. the words “crazy,” “lunatic,” and “psychotic” are tossed around way too easily. that’s just the beginning.
it’s giving white woman learns about racism and thinks she’s done something. and yes, she did, but she also clearly didn’t do her research. why is it that scarlet’s accent is only mentioned now when cinder and thorne would’ve noticed in their chapters immediately, but when they’re all in africa, the author doesn’t forget to mention the accents of the locals once? not to mention lunars likely have their own accents? overall, the world building was so poorly done that it’s easy to see why and how the author slipped up and failed to mention all these differing accents in the beginning.
i am not saying i don’t love this book. i really, genuinely do, and cresswell will always be adorable to me. but now that i’m older and my world view is different, things like this don’t just skip past the way they once did.
buttttttt now that i’m older, my perspective on this book has really changed. kai acts like a child when he’s a literal emperor, although he does have some self-awareness, and i appreciate that. i kid you not, the way thorne treats cress while they’re in the desert? that’s the way i treat my students in ELEMENTARY.
the biggest turn-around of all is that wolf is actually my favorite now, and he and scarlet genuinely feel like the most mature characters from the crew. tall, hulking, chivalrous? yes plzzzz 🤤
i read somewhere that there are a few microaggressions in the book, and now that they’ve been pointed out to me, I can’t unsee them. someone tell me why the linh family has a vietnamese last name, practices more japanese culture, but lives in china??? i understand they’re all united under the commonwealth now, but i would’ve appreciated not having to jump through the numerous logical leaps and bounds in order to excuse this extreme blurring of asian cultures.
that doesn’t even begin the notes on ableism scattered throughout the book. the words “crazy,” “lunatic,” and “psychotic” are tossed around way too easily. that’s just the beginning.
it’s giving white woman learns about racism and thinks she’s done something. and yes, she did, but she also clearly didn’t do her research. why is it that scarlet’s accent is only mentioned now when cinder and thorne would’ve noticed in their chapters immediately, but when they’re all in africa, the author doesn’t forget to mention the accents of the locals once? not to mention lunars likely have their own accents? overall, the world building was so poorly done that it’s easy to see why and how the author slipped up and failed to mention all these differing accents in the beginning.
i am not saying i don’t love this book. i really, genuinely do, and cresswell will always be adorable to me. but now that i’m older and my world view is different, things like this don’t just skip past the way they once did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Cultural appropriation, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism
cadybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
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