Wow. What a ride! The characters are so mysterious you just have to finish reading it to figure everything out. The plot twists! The characters! Especially Avery! So good. Reminded me of the Hunger Games (not just cause of the title) in terms of characters except better main character (not really sure why, I just connected to her better), and instead of trying to survive in an arena where everyone is trying to kill you, they're trying to survive in a mansion where everyone might be plotting against you. And figure out the why of Avery's inheritance. The obsession with public image was another thing in common with the Hunger Games, and just the overall mood, which can feel a bit exaggerated since they aren't actually killing each other/dying. SERIOUS, END OF BOOK SPOILERS:

I was not expecting it to be Xander, although maybe it's because I was so enthralled by the actual book to view it on a meta level

Mr. Hawthorne is a very well written character, even though he isn't actually ever present, you can imagine him and how he would behave in different situations perfectly. And can I say that the love triangle was a bit annoying? Because it was. And if she mentions Grayson's silver eyes in the sequel even once I will throw the book across the room. Like I get it, he's charming, but I don't like narcists who think they're better than everyone else. Supremely unattractive. Overall, the plot concept and execution is good, the characters are great, the emotions Avery has feel very realistic. Well and suspensefully written is the best way to describe this book.

I would give 10 stars if I could. One of the big things I really liked about it was the ending. Done so masterfully, so perfectly, just with the elements I love. It ties back to a main object from the first book, it gives us plenty of explanation for what happens after Cinder becomes queen , although one thing I would’ve liked seeing more of was Winter’s progress after having the gadget installed, and it fills you with so much hope and happiness. Every single one of the 827 pages was worth it. My new favorite series. The first book was definitely the most comfortable and cozy one, this was the adrenaline packed grand finale that this series needed.

I liked this one much more than Scarlet, and Cress was definitely much more interesting a character than Scarlet. Her obsession with Carswell Thorne was annoying at first, but I think the way it ended was perfect. Meyer has some way of making you think that everything will end badly and go wrong, a sense of helplessness, and yet manages to tie up a lot of lose ends and provide hope for the reader at the end. It’s truly magical, and I love how Cinder has finally decided to follow her “destiny”, as we see nearing the end of the book. I still feel bad about Dr. Erland, but I’m glad he managed to make the discovery first.

I don't like Scarlet as much as I liked Cinder, but she's still a good, strong character. Her determination to find her grandmother is admirable. I was curious how the author would intertwine their stories, and I think it was masterful how she did it. Wolf and Scarlets connection was very sweet in that dangerous way, and I can't wait to see what Meyer does with their relationship. Excited to read Cress. The first book was better though, and so was the cover.

I liked these backstories, they made me understand the characters even more, and appreciate their character development better. I recommend reading this after the actual series for sure, there’s definitely spoilers, and after Fairest if you want to fully understand Winter’s story. My favorite story was probably Thorne’s, but since I read Fairest a day or two ago Winters was also very interesting, as Levana’s perspective is fresh in my mind, and I also liked knowing why Winter stopped using her gift. It also made me understand how brave she is even more; that its not because of fear or disgust that she doesn’t use her gift, its vecause she understands the consequences and that its wrong. This might also be because I read Winter a while ago so I don’t remember her very detailed character perfectly. Scarlet’s story was alright, in the second book she does think about the past a lot so I already knew a lot. I did find the fact that Garan didn’t know who she was when he agreed interesting, as well as Scarlet’s grandmère’s feelings about Cinder. Cinder’s story I had already read, it was a bonus at the end of the first book, so nothing new there. The Little Android was alright, at first I thought it was Iko’s backstory but the time didn’t add up, and then she met Cinder, so obviously not. It was a bit heartbreaking despite the fact that I barely knew Star. Kai’s story was not really necessary for me to understand him but I still enjoyed it. I really liked Something Old, Something New because my guilty pleasure is when after defeating the villain the characters fix and clean things up, and that story was a lot of that. And I also liked seeing Iko and Thorne again (him especially, it was even better seeing his excitement about the shop after knowing how much he wanted it), and the story was also adorable and nostalgic. It had even more closure than I had already gotten, and gave me more time with the characters I love without feeling unnecessarily prolonged.

Also can I just say, Meyer is so good at dialogue? It’s very entertaining and embodies characters personalities very well.

“I wanted a quiet, intimate wedding, not a circus” Thorne leaned against the staircase rail. “It’s the first known Lunar-Earthen wedding in generations, the groom is a bioengineered wolf-human hybrid, and you invited the emperor of the Easter Commonwealth and the ex–Lunar Queen. What did you expect?”

Pages 336-327

I feel like when I read Heartless I could be able to predict what happens, because I know the original story and because I feel very familiar with Meyer’s writing style, but I probably won’t because her stories enrapture me and I’ll be too distracted to think of it on a meta level. The excerpt and the reviews make me think it will be heartbreaking, but since TLC wasn’t I don’t know how Marissa Meyer will do that.

This is a great book for people getting into YA scifi/dystopian, with a bit of romance. I love the action and the moral questions, with an enemies to lovers trope. I will say that the fourth book is not good. The ending to Champion (#3) destroyed me, but it was good, and Rebel (#4) was not nearly as good, I think it was just a book for the fans who wanted closure, which I personally think we got but some didn't enjoy. Great book, everyone who likes YA should read it. I'd say youngest about 10-11 years old, if you are ok with a bit of romance.