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A review by laurakh
Winter by Marissa Meyer
5.0
I am a huge fan of this series and Winter didn't disappoint!
Things I loved about Winter:
1. The characters (individually). I love that the girls in this book are so well developed, distinct and just plain awesome! The best part is they each have their own individual skill that makes sense for them to have. Often in books or movies there is a kick-ass girl character that is just over-the-top amazing and always beating people up, but it often feels to me that her skills were added in for a dose of girl-power with little to no explanation as to how she actually developed these skills. In Winter, most of the girls have a really useful skill (usually associated with men) and it totally fits with their lives and personality. For example, Cinder is a great mechanic because she had to do maintenance on herself and Adri's household as a kid, and can look at blueprints at a moments notice. Scarlet is a good pilot because she drove her grandma's delivery podship every day for years. However, they also all have their weaknesses which adds a lot of character. Cinder and Cress in particular grow a lot in this book, becoming more confident in their own ways. Although Cress wasn't my favorite, I felt like she was the best developed--probably because I would react the same way as her in almost every situation. I liked that amid all these brave characters there is a girl who is just plain scared of everything, but still tries her best to come through for the people she cares about.
In my opinion, most of the boys pale in comparison. I liked Wolf, and Thorne definitely had his moments, but I only cared about Kai and Jacin because I wanted their girls to be happy! The boys were definitely more lovable as half a couple rather than on their own.
Another character I wasn't thrilled about was Iko. I liked her, and I get that her in a humanoid body was way more helpful to the crew, but I miss her as the cute clunky android. I thought the characterization of Iko in her smaller android body was excellent--her fan slowing or speeding up or her light sensor dimming somehow turned into really touching emotions. As a humanoid android she gets much more confident and suddenly becomes essentially another human member of the team. I couldn't help thinking that there should be a lot more distinction between her and the humans, even with her faulty personality chip. Her as a human was also a way to inflict a lot of violence on the team without it resulting in death. As an android, she really goes through the gauntlet (as she points out herself), and most of the things that happen to her would kill her human companions. It feels a little too much like a plot device to amp up the threats without real consequences.
2. The characters (as couples!). The couples were (mostly) amazing in this book! There are FOUR couples to follow, but the relationships are all so distinct it isn't overwhelming. The pacing of each character's "relationship status" was great. We finish Cress with Kai and Cinder finally reaching an understanding and getting to kiss and make up, with no more secrets between them. Although they are always in dangerous situations, it is nice that there is at least one couple that is on fairly solid ground. The other relationships develop at different paces and solidify at different times throughout the book. Although the nature and timing of each relationship is distinct, some of the events were definitely repetitive. Almost every review has mentioned that every couple is separated, captured, and reunited several times throughout the book and it gets a little stale. Scarlet and Wolf are definitely my favorite couple, with Winter and Jacin in second. However, although I like Cress and Thorne individually, together they don't make much sense. I totally understand why she likes him but not vice-versa. Thorne gets very few of his own chapters, so its difficult to see his side of the relationship develop. All the other relationships work so well. Winter and Jacin are childhood friends in forbidden love and Scarlet and Wolf are fiercely protective of each other. Cinder and Kai in particular work very well--although they aren't my favorite, it makes so much sense why he would like her. They had quite a few misunderstandings in other books but now that Kai knows everything, of course he admires her. Cinder gets to openly challenge everything he hates, and while he has to be diplomatic about it she is off wreaking havoc. I love the idea that Kai is watching all the events unfold, secretly cheering for Cinder while pretending to please Levana, a smirk on his face all the way.
Some of the friendship "couples" were great too. I love Cinder and Thorne's banter, and the sweet but exasperated friendship between Scarlet and Winter.
3. The fairy tales! I am a huge fan of what my favorite book blogger Enna Isilee would call "twisted fairy tales," and I think Marissa Meyer is the absolute master. She works in the fairy tale elements so wonderfully. When I first read Cinder, it was so easy to anticipate the plot that I was afraid the entire series would be that way. However, Meyer's world building and character development is so wonderful, and so different from what I expect from fairy tales, that I kept forgetting the story it was based on in Scarlet and Cress. Whenever a fairy tale detail popped up it was like a wonderful Easter egg, but there are so many other plots going on that the fairy tale plot doesn't dictate the entire book. I thought Cress in particular worked in the details in such an innovative way. Winter was a little more heavy handed, and the fairy tale elements were more obvious, like they were in Cinder. It definitely dictated Winter's story line, but didn't give away too much of the book because there are so many other characters and plots going on.
4. The storytelling. Meyer does a great job of handling so many points of view! There are at least ten characters, if not more, that narrate chapters and Meyer handles it wonderfully. All the characters have their own little quirks that add a lot to their story--Cinder has her cyborg brain giving her extra information, Cress has her fantasies that help her pretend to be brave, and Winter has her lyrical language and crazy hallucinations.
There were a few things that bothered me about the book. Several plot threads went undeveloped or felt unneccesary. Overall, though, I thought the book was EXCELLENT and am sorry it is over! The intricate plot, fairy tale moments and wonderful characters will long hold a place in my heart.
Things I loved about Winter:
1. The characters (individually). I love that the girls in this book are so well developed, distinct and just plain awesome! The best part is they each have their own individual skill that makes sense for them to have. Often in books or movies there is a kick-ass girl character that is just over-the-top amazing and always beating people up, but it often feels to me that her skills were added in for a dose of girl-power with little to no explanation as to how she actually developed these skills. In Winter, most of the girls have a really useful skill (usually associated with men) and it totally fits with their lives and personality. For example, Cinder is a great mechanic because she had to do maintenance on herself and Adri's household as a kid, and can look at blueprints at a moments notice. Scarlet is a good pilot because she drove her grandma's delivery podship every day for years. However, they also all have their weaknesses which adds a lot of character. Cinder and Cress in particular grow a lot in this book, becoming more confident in their own ways. Although Cress wasn't my favorite, I felt like she was the best developed--probably because I would react the same way as her in almost every situation. I liked that amid all these brave characters there is a girl who is just plain scared of everything, but still tries her best to come through for the people she cares about.
In my opinion, most of the boys pale in comparison. I liked Wolf, and Thorne definitely had his moments, but I only cared about Kai and Jacin because I wanted their girls to be happy! The boys were definitely more lovable as half a couple rather than on their own.
Another character I wasn't thrilled about was Iko. I liked her, and I get that her in a humanoid body was way more helpful to the crew, but I miss her as the cute clunky android. I thought the characterization of Iko in her smaller android body was excellent--her fan slowing or speeding up or her light sensor dimming somehow turned into really touching emotions. As a humanoid android she gets much more confident and suddenly becomes essentially another human member of the team. I couldn't help thinking that there should be a lot more distinction between her and the humans, even with her faulty personality chip. Her as a human was also a way to inflict a lot of violence on the team without it resulting in death. As an android, she really goes through the gauntlet (as she points out herself), and most of the things that happen to her would kill her human companions. It feels a little too much like a plot device to amp up the threats without real consequences.
2. The characters (as couples!). The couples were (mostly) amazing in this book! There are FOUR couples to follow, but the relationships are all so distinct it isn't overwhelming. The pacing of each character's "relationship status" was great. We finish Cress with Kai and Cinder finally reaching an understanding and getting to kiss and make up, with no more secrets between them. Although they are always in dangerous situations, it is nice that there is at least one couple that is on fairly solid ground. The other relationships develop at different paces and solidify at different times throughout the book. Although the nature and timing of each relationship is distinct, some of the events were definitely repetitive. Almost every review has mentioned that every couple is separated, captured, and reunited several times throughout the book and it gets a little stale. Scarlet and Wolf are definitely my favorite couple, with Winter and Jacin in second. However, although I like Cress and Thorne individually, together they don't make much sense. I totally understand why she likes him but not vice-versa. Thorne gets very few of his own chapters, so its difficult to see his side of the relationship develop. All the other relationships work so well. Winter and Jacin are childhood friends in forbidden love
Spoiler
that scene in the menagerie when he pretends to kill her?? SO MANY EMOTIONS MOSTLY SWOONING AND CRYINGSome of the friendship "couples" were great too. I love Cinder and Thorne's banter, and the sweet but exasperated friendship between Scarlet and Winter.
Spoiler
I was surprised that there were barely any Cinder and Winter moments, considering they have a history, but Scarlet's attachment to her was an endearing surprise3. The fairy tales! I am a huge fan of what my favorite book blogger Enna Isilee would call "twisted fairy tales," and I think Marissa Meyer is the absolute master. She works in the fairy tale elements so wonderfully. When I first read Cinder, it was so easy to anticipate the plot that I was afraid the entire series would be that way. However, Meyer's world building and character development is so wonderful, and so different from what I expect from fairy tales, that I kept forgetting the story it was based on in Scarlet and Cress. Whenever a fairy tale detail popped up it was like a wonderful Easter egg, but there are so many other plots going on that the fairy tale plot doesn't dictate the entire book. I thought Cress in particular worked in the details in such an innovative way. Winter was a little more heavy handed, and the fairy tale elements were more obvious, like they were in Cinder. It definitely dictated Winter's story line,
Spoiler
and I anticipated the poisoning by Levana disguised as an old lady with sour apple petite since the candies were first mentioned at the end of Cress4. The storytelling. Meyer does a great job of handling so many points of view! There are at least ten characters, if not more, that narrate chapters and Meyer handles it wonderfully. All the characters have their own little quirks that add a lot to their story--Cinder has her cyborg brain giving her extra information, Cress has her fantasies that help her pretend to be brave, and Winter has her lyrical language and crazy hallucinations.
There were a few things that bothered me about the book. Several plot threads went undeveloped or felt unneccesary.