Winter: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Character List:
Cinder: Princess and Heir to Luna, part cyborg
Winter: Princess on Luna, step-daughter to Levana
Cress: a gadget wiz, part of Cinder's crew
Scarlet: a human who lived in France, in love with Wolf, captured by Levana, part of Cinder's crew
Wolf: Solider that escaped from Levana's special pack, in love with Scarlet, part of Cinder's crew
Thorne: Captain and part of Cinder's crew
Kai: emperor on Earth
Levana: Queen of Luna, Aunt to Cinder
Iko: cyborg, part of Cinder's crew
Aimery: Solider on Luna, servant to Levana,
Jacin Clay: Solider on Luna, servant to Levana, in love with Winter
Torin: adviser to Kai

Review & Summary:
This is the last book in the series, and the lead up to this book is well worth it and finally paying off.   The crew that has been gathering and agreeing to help Cinder overthrow Levana to help the humans on Earth get rid of the disease she created and to help make conditions better for those on Luna have arrived on Luna.  Right away things go wrong and the team is scattered and changing the plans that they thought would work.  Winter is now learning about what Cinder has planned and trying to help.
Halfway through the book and part of you will wish there is a resolution and the other part of you is sad that the series will end soon and are hoping that Winter or Cinder come out on top.  With things having gone wrong and the plan in chaos the reader is left with bits and pieces of clues that have been woven in the stories since the start.
As the chaos of overthrowing Levana occurs several characters risk their lives and their futures are unknown.  Each character is becoming more independent, brave, and their reasons for doing this become personal as well as for the greater good.  Each of Cinder's crew is risking their lives to help her, and you want to cheer for them at their small victories, feel heartbroken at defeats, and keep your hopes up for a happy ending for all of these characters (even if it seems unlikely to happen at times).  While I do not want to spoil the ending, I am thankful that Marissa Meyer was writing the series instead of George R.R. Martin.  The ending tied up all of the story lines, at least all the ones I thought there were.  Do you find out every detail, no, but you get an idea of what the characters will be doing and what their lives will be like.  After three books and some novellas I really appreciated how the story lines came together and came to a conclusion.

Book Rating:
5 books out of 5

Suggested Reading:

       

Swords and Scoundrels (book 1 of The Duelists Trilogy) by Julia Knight

Character List:
Vocho = brother, former member of the Guild
Kacha "Kass" = sister, former member of the Guild
Dom = claims to be rich and from a farm near where Vocho and Kacha were staying
Petri "Eggy"Egimont = former flame of Kacha, former member of the Guild, working for Bakar,
Duke of Elona = king's right hand and Petri's father
Bakar/Prelate = leader of the revolution/new ruler or Reyes
Eneko = Mater of the Guild
Cospel = valet for Vocho and Kacha
Licio = King
Sabates = magician "helping" Licio

Review:
The book got off to an awkward start, and was a bit confusing.  Sticking with the story it got better and within the eight chapters there was many paths this story could go and plot lines being laid.  The main characters are brother and sister and they have gotten in trouble with the Duelist Guild, which is a mystery of the exact reason why but what was done is told.  Vocho and Kacha are trying to survive and come across an unknown object that is when the main plot begins.
Halfway through the book, you start to see all the subplots starting to merge together and the backstories are really starting to make sense in the present.  It is hard to predict how things will be resolved or what plot twists might be.  Guesses and predictions can be made based on the information that is revealed about Eggy, Kacha, and other characters.  Still not sure who, other than Vocho and Kacha, are going to be major players (and how so).  The mystery is what keeps me reading and the clues being dispersed through current and "interludes" that happened as far back at 18 years ago is interesting.  At first the Interludes were confusing and seemed oddly timed, but by chapter twelve the pattern is starting to make sense and adds to the character development.  I like that the Interludes are titled and time frame is clearly given at the start of the chapter.  While I don't enjoy this method in every book I read it is beneficial and has become enjoyable as it gives character development and background on the subplots and motives.  By the end of the book it seems like everyone's motives have been made clear and what their original plan is.  There seems to be several with people similar goals, but different ways to do it and reasons for achieving those goals.  New teams appear to be forming and alliances seem shaky for a few.  One thing seems certain, by the end of the trilogy the Prelate will be overthrown and the Guild will have to make changes.
The ending of the books just kind of stopped.  There wasn't a cliffhanger just plot lines left unresolved and the characters have just learned new information about other characters.  I am thankful I have ordered the second book in the series, Legends and Liars (The Duelists) , because it really does just seems like the decision to end the book was made based on size of the book.

The series seems interesting and I may read other books by the author, because I liked how real the characters are.
 

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 books.