Book Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #3) / ★★★★★

One sentence summary: Cress, a Lunar hacker trapped in a satellite for seven years, is about to be rescued so she can help can stop a royal wedding- but things go horribly wrong.

“I am an explorer,” she whispered, “setting courageously off into the wild unknown.” It was not a daydream she’d ever had before, but she felt the familiar comfort of her imagination wrapping around her. She was an archaeologist, a scientist, a treasure hunter. She was a master of land and sea. “My life is an adventure,” she said, growing confident as she opened her eyes again. “I will not be shackled to this satellite anymore.” 

Thorne tilted his head to one side. He waited for three heartbeats before sliding one hand down into hers. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said. “But we’ll go with it.” 

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Young Adult

Plot

I. Loved. This. Book. 100% fun. A+ entertainment. Hearts in my eyes.

Cress, the third book in The Lunar Chronicles, was nothing short of fantastic. I hated seeing my bookmark traveling further and further through the book, because that meant I was getting closer to the end, and I didn’t want it to end. Reading this book was pure joy.

The previous two books in this series, Cinder and Scarlet, revolved around the retellings of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. Cress takes on Rapunzel. The movie Tangled, Disney’s take on the Rapunzel story, is one of my favorite movies, and I loved how Meyer took aspects of that retelling, particularly when it came to characterization, and aspects of the original, and used them together in her own retelling. These books just keep getting more and more brilliant. Meyer took the plot of Rapunzel and melded it into something intense, heart aching, and adorably sweet.

Now, I said reading this book was pure joy- but it definitely upped the stakes. This book kept me on the edge of my seat far more than first two books in this series, and raised the danger threshold. So, in the sense that made me more far more enraptured in the plot, just as the humor, the adventure, and the romance did, it was a joy to read.

And since I rated the covers of the previous two books, I have to say I love the cover of Cress, and it may just be my favorite Lunar Chronicles cover. I think it’s so pretty, even if not entirely accurate to the actual book, but…I love it, and I love Rapunzel imagery. A++.

Characters

Cress is my new favorite. Previously it was Kai, and I still love Kai, but CRESS. She’s so sweet and good and I loved how Meyer handled her seclusion from human contact in the form of an paralyzing anxiousness, fierce imagination, enthusiasm, naivety, and eagerness. I loved how she was so timid, yet took on responsibility where she needed to, how she fantasized and daydreamed about the way fairy tales always went and took inspiration from them to make herself brave, but didn’t let them dictate her bravery. I love the fiercer bravery of Cinder and Scarlet, but I can always relate to characters who struggle to summon bravery in the midst of a more timid nature. I adored Cress’s goodness and her kind of bravery.

And THORNE. I loved getting to spend more time with him in this book and exploring his character more deeply. Thorne is hilarious and wacky, cocky and good. I loved getting to see his smarts and his softer side in this book. And I LOVE his and Cress’s romance, it’s the most adorable and so good and sweet, much like them, even if it hurt my heart as much as it did Cress’s at times. I can’t tell if I ship them more, or Cinder and Kai. Because I so love Cinder and Kai.

Speaking of which, I loved them as usual, and I loved their progression in this novel, especially at the end of it. I can’t wait to see what happens between them, and because of them, in the next book. As for Wolfe and Scarlet, and particularly Scarlet, who covered the darker parts of this novel, I really look forward to seeing what kind of development they’ll get in the next book- hopefully some relief and a bit more screen time.

Also, Iko is a DELIGHT. I want her and Cress to be best friends.

Writing

I think by now I can say that Marissa Meyer is a fantastically imaginative storyteller and a wonderful, concise, and colorful writer. Everything in this book was so vivid, full of emotion, and so alive. I thought the juggling of the different points of views were much more balanced in this book, and she definitely upped the tension and raised the stakes. I was stressed reading this book (which means I CARE A LOT).

Was I satisfied?

YES. Cress was some the most fun I’ve had reading a book this year so far. I want to begin the last book in The Lunar Chronicles, Winter, asap, but I also don’t because then it will be over. GAH. Love it.