Cress (Lunar Chronicles, #3)

by Marissa Meyer

Frostbite Studios (Illustrator)

Incarcerated in a satellite, an expert hacker and out to save the world - Cress isn't your usual damsel in distress. 

CRESS grew-up as a prisoner. With only netscreens for company she's forced to do the bidding of the evil Queen Levana. Now that means tracking down Cinder and her handsome accomplice Emperor Kai. But little does Levana know that those she seeks, and the man she loves, are plotting her downfall . . .

As paths cross and the price of freedom rises, happily ever after has never seemed further away for Cress, Scarlet and Cinder.

This is not the fairy tale you remember. But it's one you won't forget.

• Publish Date: March 2023 (first published 1 February 2014)
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Puffin
• Edition: FairyLoot Exclusive
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 560
• Language: English
• Special: Exclusive Design Signed Sprayed Edges

Reviews

[anastasia]

Full Review on my blog!
“Maybe there isn’t such a thing as fate. Maybe it’s just the opportunities we’re given, and what we do with them. I’m beginning to think that maybe great, epic romances don’t just happen. We have to make them ourselves.” 
I love this series so much! The characters match the fairy tales in such a unique and creative way. Seriously I don't even know where to begin this review for this undeniable master piece of a novel.  I felt the story really took off in this one: traveling to African deserts!
 I loved Cress and her growth throughout the novel and her obsession with Thorne was completely understandable. She's so not like a typical heroine. She's extremely intelligent but is primarily a daydreamer and tends to be swept up in her imagination.  love how socially awkward and naive she is to the outside world.
Thorne made me laugh so much and I ship him and Cress so hard! Cress. Thorne. Freaking cuteness overload!! They are easily one of my all time favorite ships. Of course Cinder was great and so kickass in this one too. I loved Wolf in Scarlet and in this one he was really lacking for me..I felt so bad for him and Scarlet. I really loved Iko and she grew so much and she's hilarious and so badass at the end!

“Captain?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?”
He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. “No. I’m pretty sure it was Cinder.”
The plot was fast paced with not a dull moment to be seen and the pacing was perfect. OMG THE ENDING. THAT ENDING. SO SO GOOD! I highly recommend it!

Check out my reviews of the rest of this series!
Cinder
Scarlet
Cress
Winter

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[ladygrey]

Cress is my favorite in the series so far. I didn't figure out where it was going in the larger series arc until like page 250 or 275 (as opposed to page 40). And even then it surprised me.

The plot moves pretty well, especially with Cress and Thorne. I kind of wanted more to happen with Cinder's crew but we didn't spend enough time with them to drag the story down. Both the Cinder and Kai storylines evened out the pace well. And it builds to a good heist and satisfying finale.

I liked Cress (the character) more than I think I expected to. She was sweet and endearing. Thorne was fun and there was something oddly comforting about their camaraderie and their time together even though it was mostly in harsh circumstances. Plus there was that kind of perfect kiss.

Mostly, I really liked how it all came together. Some series follow the same small(ish) group of characters. Others stay in the same world but introduce new core characters with each book. This is the best kind of series that adds to the cast without letting the characters we already know and enjoy fall out of the spotlight (though Wolf was sidelined a little too much for my taste). What Meyers ends up with is an enjoyable, motley crew that totally makes the series.

I'm looking forward to how it expands and concludes in Winter.

[wyvernfriend]

Next fairy tale to be tacked is Cinderella, which was kinda to be expected with a spaceship called Rampion. Cress is trapped in a satellite doing the bidding of Queen Levana, but she is engaging in small acts of rebellion and trying to subvert things. She's supporting Cinder and trying her best to ensure that Cinder's rebellion will come to pass.

Complicated but mostly a bridging novel, bringing characters together to lead to the resolution.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I can't really begin to express how much I love The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. With each book, it just gets better; the world, the originality, the effortless weaving of fairytales we know into a completely unrecognisable story that I just can't get enough of. Cress is no exception; the stakes are raised, the clock is ticking, and things get even more epic.

I don't want to give too much away because so much happens, so I'm not writing a description this time round, as I think the Goodreads description is good enough. But oooh, this story is just so good! I don't know the original story of Rapunzel very well; I know she's locked in a tower, has very long hair, which is used to help a prince climb the tower. Otherwise, I'm in the dark, so I didn't have the same experience of recognition as certain parts of the story reflected the original. Even so, it was still bloody brilliant.

As I said, things get epic in this story, and this is due to them being split up. Everyone is in danger, but no-one knows how the others are doing, if they're even alive. Cress and Thorne end up on Earth in the middle of a desert, with no life to be seen in any direction for miles. Because of the events of the botched yet partially successful rescue attempt, Thorne is injured, and Cress is struggling with being out of her satellite, with all the space and all the sky. Cress needs Thorne to keep her from drowning in anxiety, and Thorne needs Cress because he's injured. They both need the other's help, and it's difficult. Thorne needs to do some fast talking to keep Cress calm, and needs to really think in order to keep them alive, and Cress needs to keep a lid on her anxiety to help Thorne get about and follow his instructions. And this is all so, so wonderful! Seriously! Thorne is still Thorne; still arrogrant and funny and making a joke out of everything, but in Cress, he shows he's also very smart. Not only that, but he's great under pressure. He is so compassionate and kind and gentle with Cress, despite the fact he's struggling with his injury himself. He can't afford to freak out and worry about what's happened to him, because he's the only one who can keep them alive, because not only does Cress not know much about Earth at all, she hasn't been out of her satellite for seven years. She has no idea what to do. Thorne really steps up, and my admiration for him really grows. He's definitely the comic relief of the series, but he's also a fantastic character in his own right. There's a conversation he and Cress have; Cress talks about how she's always thought of him as a hero, because of the research she's done on him - there's always been some kind of altruistic motive behind his wrong doings. Thorne tells her she's got him all wrong, and those altruistic motives were made up to get him out of trouble - he's no hero. Except in this story, that's exactly what he is. And he's wonderful!

I didn't warm to Cress as much as I hoped. I didn't hate her, I actually liked her, but I didn't warm to her as much as I warmed to Cinder and Scarlet. That might just be because she spent a lot of time with Thorne, who I completely adore, so my attention was more on him. Saying that, she's still a fantastic character. She's scared, she's really terrified - of defying her queen, of what will happen to Earth if Levana marries Kai, what will happen to her if she's ever caught, what will happen to her and Thorne in this desert, of the world itself - but she is brilliant. She's super intelligent, and all the time in the satellite has taught her to be an exceptional hacker. She's resourceful and smart, even when she's scared, and she's so brave. Courageous. She is scared all the time, but she still defies Queen Levana and Mistress Sybil. She takes action and works against them, despite being terrified, and you can only admire her for it. I have so much respect for her, and am in such awe.

Which made me really just how wonderful the female characters in this series are. They're all based on fairy tale damsels in distress, but they're all so resourceful and smart and strong! When it comes down to the crunch, Cinder, Scarlet and Cress will always do the thing they believe is right, and show such bravery. Cinder tries to warn Kai at the ball that Levana will kill him; Scarlet goes off to find her grandmother once she's found out that she's been kidnapped; Cress goes against those who have only kept her alive for how useful she is. And not only that, but look at the jobs these ladies have; Cinder is a mechanic, Scarlet practically runs the business of her grandmother's farm, Cress is a computer hacker - all jobs that are stereotypically thought of as jobs for - and given to - men. These ladies are the kind of role models we need in fiction these days. They're not your typical damsels in distress - they may get into scrapes they need help getting out of, but they also do some rescuing of their own. These characters are women to look up to.

This book is action packed, and packs one hell of a punch! Just as you think things are starting to look good, there's another obstacle, and another, and another. Characters are mourning those they believe dead, and trying to carry on without them, despite their grief. There's the huge, unbelievable build up to the end, and then that ending! Oh my god! I am so excited to pick up Winter, the fourth and final book in The Lunar Chronicles, but I'm waiting. I'm waiting to read Fairest, which I believe is a prequel to the series, from Levana's point of view. Apparently it's not crucial to read before Winter, but it gives an insight into the queen and can help, I've heard. So I've ordered it online, and I'm going to read that first. I am SO excited! And it also means the end of the series is put off a little longer.

This series is absolutely incredible, and I really, really don't want it to end! I'm so glad I have two more full length books, and a short story collection, Stars Above, to read before leaving this world. I simply cannot get enough!

[reveriesociety_]

Someone please hold me.

I'm dying here.

You know, it's funny how I thought maybe this changing of MCs would affect the story's enjoyability. Marissa Meyer must be laughing at poor naive me. Don't worry, I've learned my lesson. Can you believe that I thought that the different POVs would mean that I would be missing on a lot of things, that it'd have been better if each book had at a more center stage its chosen girl? XD

If anything, the fact that I get to see everyone in each book is a sweet torture. Because I DO get to see them, *cough*Wolf and Scarlet are perfect and I love them and want to hug them so much *cough*, but also, enough is left in the dark to keep the mystery alive.

That is some pretty badass balance the author achived here, and it's kind of amazing. As for the storyline, the gang accepts their new allies in order to defeat queen Levana, but of course, nothing is ever easy.

The writing is as engaging as always, and it really doesn't drag. There's always things to do, people to kill, spy on, or brainwash :3

Have fun!

[Liz (Bent Bookworm)]

So....didn't like this one as much. The story progressed well, but the new relationship (Cress and *edit*) felt silly and forced. I understand following the fairy tale, but honestly that part felt like a written version of the Tangled movie. That said - Cinder and Kai - awwww. I'm really interested to see how the last book will tie up all the trailing threads of the different stories. Hoping it is all it promises it could be!

[Silvara]

Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.

I loved Cress! She was such a cute mix of naive wonder, and super hacker! She was constantly using daydreams to get her through situations that would otherwise send her screaming. Stranded in the middle of a desert with no idea where you are? No problem, she is now a brave explorer. Lots of people staring at her? She becomes a famous actress in her head.

And yet, she is also a super brilliant computer wiz. Hacking into top secret places, learning access codes and other information known only to a handful of people or less. I loved how her character was handled. Constantly reminded that she is the Rapunzel embodiment in this retelling, but also helping to shape her into what will hopefully end up being a strong character. She thinks of herself as a helpless damsel, and wants Thorne to save her, even before they have ever met. And their interactions after meeting are super adorable!

Cinder is still changing and maturing from what we knew of her in the first book. She's finally getting on-board with being a princess, and taking her kingdom away from Levana. But there are still moments of backsliding when she isn't surrounded by her friends. She's working on getting her powers under her control, even in the middle of crisis, but it is a work in progress.

I didn't much care for Jacin, and hopefully if he reappears in the next book we'll get to know more about him. We didn't learn much in this book, he was just kind of there in a few scenes, and always had this smirking looking down his nose thing going on (not that exactly of course, but that was the air he gave off.)

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon

[nitzan_schwarz]

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON AFTERWORDS! 

Cress had the very unfortunate luck of being one of the books I got stuck on in my February book slump. It was no fault of the book, really, because it's great. I was just not feeling reading at all, so it took me ten days to read it. That's a long time, for me.

Cress starts with it's namesake, floating around space on a satellite. Finally, we get to see things from this character's perspective, which we've been teased with since book one. And guess what? She is adorable.

She pretends she's a character in a movie when she needs to hold on to hope or do something that scares her. She fantasizes about people she doesn't know and what could be (#RealFangirl). She is sweet, brave and I just loved her!

And Thorne and Cress together? OTP all the way - they had me constantly smiling and grinning the whole read. Y'all know I love Thorne. He's one of the best parts about Scarlet. And in Cress? He really gets to shine. Big chunks of this story are about this devil-may-care, carefree rouge showing his true colors - that of a really loyal, really caring, and kind of self deprecating person.

And there's no one better to show Thorne his better parts and make him the hero he should be than Cress, who's been half-way in love with him from before they ever met, and all the way in love with him by the end of this novel, because of his many faults instead of despite them #GOALS

Now, Cress has the most POVs and plot-lines to date in the series - we had Cress, the occasional Thorne, Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, the Doc, Mira... That's a lot. And while I can definitely say it's incredibly well done and weaves together seamlessly, it was also the drawback of this book to me.

The thing is, at every given time there was one POV I was interested in above the rest (and it wasn't always thesame pov). And while all the POVs were interesting, every pov that wasn't the one-I-was-most-invested-at-in-the-moment dragged. I wanted it to be over quickly so I could finally return to the story-line I wanted. Those were the moments I put the book down, and coming back to it was difficult (re: February book slump)

Now. I gotta mention The best part of this novel by a landslide... Iko! This android needs her own talk show. Shine, my bright star, shine!

P.S - Wolf. My sweet child. Let me hug you. You're killing me here!

Cannot wait to Winter! We got a slight taste of Winter in this novel, and I for one want more!

 
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[Artemis]

I read this in early 2016 – and while I do remember most of what I loved about the third installment of Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles, my memory is also a little hazy. I do remember one overwhelming feeling when reading Cress – finally Meyer had me no longer guessing what happens next, because at times I honestly had no idea where this journey was going. Meyer’s adaptation of Rapunzel was well done, and made Cress my favorite character of the series.
Like Cinder and Scarlet, Cress was a fast moving novel and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Cress and Captain Throne better throughout this novel. Levana is probably one of the best young adult villains I’ve encountered.

https://artemisreads.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/review-cress-by-marissa-meyer/

[Katie King]

I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped to.

Maybe it's because the plot dragged with Thorne and Cress - not that I don't like them together, but they're just wandering around for a good portion of the book.

Maybe because it felt like a filler book right before the finale.

Not sure. It was certainly good enough to go on to read Winter, but after Fairest, I thought this just didn't meet my expectations. There were plot twists, interesting revelations, drama, love & romance, but I don't know. I didn't feel a whole lot after finishing it. Not to mention Iko needs to go away because she just gets on my nerves but that's my own problem.