Winter - Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles has come to an end with Winter.

Winter is a lovely princess, the step-daughter of Queen Levena. She is admired by all the Lunar people, and despite the three scars on her face, it is said she's more beautiful than the Queen. And unlike to Queen, she does not need to use her glamour to make it appear she's beautiful. She just is. But not using her glamour, means her mind plays tricks on her.

Winter despises her stepmother. She doesn't like the way Levena treats the people of Luna. She doesn't like the way Levena treats her. She knows Levena would never approve of her feelings for Jacin, the palace guard.

But now, it's time for Winter to stand up to her stepmother. She joins Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress and Thorne in their effort to launch a revolution and de-throne Levena.

Meyer does a great job of building up to the war. She also answers questions we have had since book one. We learn more about the disease, Letumosis, and how the shells were treated. We see Cinder's reactions and thoughts about what to do if she wins and becomes Queen Selene. We learn more about the class system in Lunar, the Nobles vs the Shells.

The Lunar Chronicles was one that I loved at first, but then started to loose some interest. But I'm glad I stuck with it, and finished the series. It was great. Even the play on Snow White in this one.

Fairest - Marissa Meyer

I am a huge Cinderella fan. I have a collection of different Cinderella books. So years ago, when Cinder came out, I gobbled it. But as the series continued, I felt it lost a little something. But I still wanted to see it through, so I continued on.

Fairest is a novella, the story of Queen Levana, and fits in between book 3, Cress and book 4, Winter. And it fits nicely.

Queen Levana is not a nice queen. Since we're talking fairy tales, think of the Evil Queen and Maleficent, rolled into one. And that would be Queen Levana.

Fairest is her story. I almost expected to like her. Often, when a novella comes out, with the "other side" of the story, there's something almost humane about this character, and although you still do not like them, you soften a little towards them.

Not here! I love how Meyer keeps true to the Levana from her previous books. There are times you want to feel bad for her, you may also start to pity her, but Meyer reminds you, that she is evil. Pure and simple.

Having not been as eager towards the series as I had previously been, Fairest was fantastic. It's gotten me excited again. I am looking forward to seeing how this story ends.

Writer's Workshop - Disney Princess

If you had to choose a Disney princess 

to live the rest of your life as....

which princess would you choose

and why?

I love Disney.

I love Disney princesses.

I have a boy, 

so I'm one of those moms 

that doesn't get upset

that the princesses are princesses.

Yes, 

I love the fractured fairy tales

where the princess is tough.

But I do love a good fairy tale too.

I have a slight Cinderella obsession.

I collect Cinderella books.

I have a whole lot!

So,

when I saw this prompt,

I immediately thought

Cinderella!

I mean,

isn't she the Queen of Princesses?

If you've read

Chris Colfer's Land of Stories

series

Cinderella is awesome,

yet boring.

Kind of. 

Red Riding Hood is more interesting.

And then I thought;

Do I want to be a princess who sits around

all day in fancy gowns?

Ummm... no!

But then,

every once in awhile,

I get a picture of a Rebel Princess

show up on my Facebook page.

Have you seen them?

My main issue with the Disney princesses

is I don't fit in.

I have a mouth.

And an attitude.

So these non-traditional princesses

suit me better.

So, let's re-visit today's prompt.

Which princess would I be?

I decided to go with Belle.

Come on...

she lives in a huge house filled with

BOOKS!!!

Plus,

I came across this picture...

Who can resist Sheldon?

And this....

Doesn't she look awesome?

So,

good looks + attitude + books = Belle!