The Lunar Chronicles

The new Queen of dystopia - Marissa Meyer, take a bow love. A show-stopping series with an epic finale, her best-selling quartet of books, The Lunar Chronicles, ticks every damn literary box to perfection. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The Lunar Chronicles is made up of four books - Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter - each spinning a futuristic twist on a classic fairy tale that intertwine with one another to build a bigger story line that couldn't be further away from the childhood favourites upon which these books are loosely based. Crafting a science-fiction re-telling of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White, Marissa Meyer throws us into a world where humans, cyborgs, and androids all co-exist; where Earth, led by Prince Kaito, is in an intergalactic battle with its moon Luna, and its Lunar inhabitants who are ruled by the ruthless Queen Levana; and where a deadly plague is threatening to destroy human existence.

Cinder, is a cyborg and a mechanic living in New Beijing under the roof of her wicked stepmother and all she's ever known is the social injustice she has faced as a result of being half human, half machine, slamming her as a second-class citizen. But then her life is doused with confusion, secrets, and politics as she gets tangled up in the world of Prince Kai and finds herself at the centre of a rebellion against Queen Levana. As the story flows into book two, Cinder finds herself up against enemies that she desperately needs to shake off, whilst halfway across the world, Scarlet Benoit, a spaceship pilot, is on the search for her missing grandmother. As she hunts for clues, she encounters Wolf, a dangerous but magnetic street-fighter who may hold the answers that Scarlet is looking for. Reluctantly putting her trust in him, they strike up a partnership that leads to them uncovering more than they bargained for, even more so when they clash with Cinder. Forging an alliance, they battle to stay one step ahead of Queen Levana and plot to overthrow her with the help of Cress, a computer hacker who's been held a prisoner of Queen Levana for as long as she can remember. As Cinder and her crew rescue her from Levana's clutches, they find themselves in a dangerous mission to save not only the Lunar Kingdom from a ruthless monarchy, but the world from a disastrous fate. Pulling it off involves their united force, together with the charm and grace of Princess Winter - the step-daughter of Queen Levana - gathering support from sectors across Earth and Luna, and launching a revolution that could save Winter's kingdom and end a war that has raged on for far too long.

|   "Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon A Time..." - Marissa Meyer

These books, man. I mean, it takes a while to wrap your head around this whole new world that Marissa Meyer has skilfully created but once you do, you are well and truly sucked in. It is simply mesmerising. Her writing is mind-blowingly creative and her writing style is beautiful. The world-building is breathtaking - it's actually some of the best world-building I've read in fiction. The attention to detail is immaculate and Marissa Meyer's shown such a talent in the way she weaves together the plot threads across all the books to show the adventures of the four girls, although they each face very different challenges. And the way she pulls it all together in Winter to execute the plot to perfection is quite honestly, astounding.

Each one of her books is an absolute page-turner; she has perfected the art of keeping her readers intrigued. Her books are brimming with action, plot twists, and romance - and she hits the mark each time. The dialogue and humour, the perfectly scripted moments, the characters...I haven't loved a bunch of characters this much in so long, I'd forgotten what it feels like. They are each so cleverly distinct in their personalities and the different dynamics within the friendships and romances actually make this book. I just...I'm lost for words. I'm dizzy with my love for this series. AND LOOK AT THOSE COVERS. They are bloody stunning. These books are honestly a work of art.

I wish wish wish I could read them again for the first time. It's so rare to stumble across books you fall entirely head over heels in love with. Ones that you empty your bank account to buy because they have become one of your absolute favourites of all time. And can we please talk about one of the most perfect, beautiful endings to have ever been scripted for a series. Every author on this planet should read the epilogue in Stars Above and take note. Because it is the epilogue of all epilogues.

Oh.

My.

Stars.

One of the most beautiful chapters that I have ever read in the history of ever.