Marissa Meyer's "Renegades" Book Discussion

***This event occurred on November 15, 2017, from 7:00-9:00pm at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA.***

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• Marissa Meyer talked about how Renegades was a long but rewarding journey. She had many good days but many bad days.
• She likes to read in her free time to inspire more writing. She told the group, "There are times when I am reading a book and I feel like the writer makes it looks so easy. But, I know logically that it doesn't work like that." At least I don't feel alone when it comes to my struggles with writing. I'm sure that other writers feel comfort after her comment.
• Marissa started talking about the process of writing Renegades. She first came up with the idea that during her Lunar Chronicles Scarlet tour in February 2013. She passed a construction zone with a location sign in view, but she thought it said "Coming Soon Hero School." The idea came to be a similar structure as the Lunar Chronicles where a male superhero would fall in love with a female super villain, but they wouldn't know that they were arch enemies.
• The novel continued to fall flat on her expectations so she set the book aside a few times so she could finish the Lunar Chronicles and Heartless for the next 3 years.
• After four drafts of different plots and use of characters that fell flat and her deadline vastly approaching, she said she had a moment where she had to wallow in a little self-pity and watch Pride and Prejudice before calling her agent to explain the original idea.
• She got the permission to make a stand-alone novel instead of a trilogy like she had originally signed her contract.
• It cleared her head, which allowed her to finish her novel while making the book into a duology at the least.
• When she was asked about her influences for the novel, she said, "All superhero books, movies, and TV shows, but more specifically X-men." She also said that Sailor Moon had a big impact in making the book because she loves the idea that enemies fall in love but also have secret identities.
• We were able to ask some questions...someone asked what her go to snack was and she said wine. I say that sounds great!
• I asked her what she does when she has writer's block and needs to clear her head. She told me that she likes to "Take a walk, bath or nap and even stare out the window as she draws what the characters in my book are doing."
• She then signed our books!

Some pictures from the event

My view from my seat was pretty good.

I told her that I had a very hard time reading 3rd person POV until I read her Lunar Chronicles series

She said selfies were welcome! I was so happy!

My signed copy of Renegades. It says, "Do you have it takes?" And my answer is, "Heck yes!"

I am so happy. I have many of her books signed but this was the first time I met Marissa Meyer.

Review Wednesday: Cinderella's Dress by Shonna Slayton

Title: Cinderella's Dress (Cinderella's Dress #1)

Author: Shonna Slayton

1st Date of Publication: June 3, 2014

ISBN: 9781622663408

# of Pages: 322

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Rating: 13+

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Book Description: 
Being a teenager during World War II is tough. Finding out you're the next keeper of the real Cinderella's dress is even tougher.
Kate simply wants to create window displays at the department store where she's working, trying to help out with the war effort. But when long-lost relatives from Poland arrive with a steamer trunk they claim holds the Cinderella's dress, life gets complicated.

Now, with a father missing in action, her new sweetheart shipped off to boot camp, and her great aunt losing her wits, Kate has to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

After all, the descendants of the wicked stepsisters will stop at nothing to get what they think they deserve.

Setting: 1940s (WWII), New York

Point of View:  3rd Person- Kate Allen

Goodreads Rating: 3.61

My Rating: 4.0

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The dress on the cover is absolutely beautiful and so is the girl modeling with the dress. It is mesmerizing for me to look at.
View on Title: I love reading fairy tales, which was intriguing because it only concentrated on Cinderella's dress rather than her shoes which I believe is the most important part of the original story since it continues the plot line of the original tale.

Pros:

• I love how it is set in World War II era. Many of my favorite historical fiction books are written in this time period because there are so many aspects of society that can be shown. This one specifically shows a couple aspects of World War II
• The fashion world while rationing in efforts to support troops and the war effort. It truly shows how people appreciated the little they were able to have while trying to make things beautiful during a time of struggle.
• This also shows immigration of those oppressed during the war through Kate's great uncle and great aunt who ran away from Poland. The United States became a refuge for those who were oppressed by the Nazis and their followers.
• Some of the things teens did for fun or dates are shown through going out to get shakes and trying to do little things to impress each other but in a 1940s way.
• The concept of "Keeper of the Wardrobe" was interesting because it is a royal duty given to a servant girl who knew and loved the real Cinderella who is Polish and has a complicated name that starts with a "K." The duty is handed down to each generation but it's a dangerous task because the step sisters' descendants come with a vengeance for the dress themselves.
• Kate Allen's character is an excellent way to show a young woman who is fighting for her own rights while fighting for the country she loves.
• I also love that I got to see some of the Polish culture and language that was most likely used during that time.

Cons:

• The only thing that bothered me was that I wanted more from certain characters. I felt that it concentrated so much on Kate Allen rather than some of the other characters such as Johnny Day, her brother Floyd, and her mother.

Shonna Slayton's Website:

http://shonnaslayton.com/

Other Recommendations:

The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Children of Willesden Lane by Mona Golabek

Review Wednesday: Sinful Cinderella by Anita Valle

Title: Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen #1)

Author: Anita Valle
1st Date of Publication: September 15, 2015 

ISBN: 9781518811968
# of Pages: 156

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13+

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Book Description:
And you thought the stepsisters were wicked....

I'm not who they think I am. A docile girl who meekly obeys her stepmother and stepsisters. Some kind of sick angel who cheerfully bears their mistreatment. That's what I WANT them to think. Because then they won't suspect what I'm really up to.

The ball, the prince - it's all part of my plan to come out on top. Stepmother and her demented daughters will pay for every floor I have scoured, every sneer I have borne. They don't know about the white magic, how I use it to enhance myself. They can't see that my heart is black as midnight, rotten as a poisoned apple.

They're about to find out.

Setting: Fictional kingdom
Point of View: 1st person- Cinderella

Goodreads Rating: 3.63

My Rating: 3.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Cinderella looks absolutely beautiful in a devious dark way. The black dress and the sharp jagged crown fit her dark presence.
View on Title: I really was intrigued by the title since it has some alliteration, specifically consonance, with the "s" sound. Why is Cinderella sinful anyway? What does she do?

Pros:

• I liked the twist with Cinderella's character. She's a bad girl and only seems like a good girl for her own benefit.
• I found it funny how Cinderella calls her fairy Godmother "Godnutter" which I have always perceived as a little crazy.
• In this book, nothing is what it seems, which makes the reader want to read more.
• This book obviously foreshadows Snow White, which I thought was very creative and makes me want to continue reading these novellas.
• The ending was perfect in my opinion. I will not give any spoilers, but the concept of "what goes around, comes around" is at play. Nothing truly goes unpunished.

Cons:

• I know this book is a novella, but I felt that it was really rushed and was too short for the story. It made me feel a little frustrated because I felt more could have been done with the plot.
• Because the book was short, it lacked character development for all characters, even Cinderella herself.
• I felt that Cinderella hearing about her mom was a crucial part of the book and it was barely touched upon. This could have become a large part of what could make the book feel fuller.

Anita Valle's Website:
http://www.anitavalleart.com/

Other Recommendations:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Review Wednesday: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ CINDER. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about Cinder by clicking on the link: Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: February 5, 2013

ISBN: 9780312642969
# of Pages: 452

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Violence)

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Book Description:
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Setting: France and New Beijing in Futuristic Earth
Point of View: 3rd person- Scarlet Benoit and Linh Cinder

Goodreads Rating: 4.31

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: This cover is a little easier to figure out what fairy tale retelling this is; Little Red Riding Hood. I like how the cover still doesn't reveal a face but shows her scarlet-colored hair and her red hood running. It made me want to read the book. Why is the girl running? And, what is she running to or who is she running from?
View on Title: The script is yet again intriguing and beautiful. Since Cinder was about a girl who is named Cinder, I assumed immediately that the girl is named Scarlet based on the title.

Pros:

• I liked this book a lot more than the first, but I think that's because the Cinder had to set up a lot of information and kept you in the dark for reasons, which are eventually revealed in this book.
• Scarlet's rendition is different, but it makes the story unique. She's an ex-air force pilot/farmer's granddaughter who works for a restaurant. She desperately searches for her grandmother who has disappeared and she'll do anything to save her.
• I feel that Scarlet's character is much stronger than Cinder, but it could be that Scarlet is 18 and has more of an established identity while Cinder is 16 and figuring out who she really is.
• But not all is lost for Cinder, she begins to know more and more who she is. Unlike Scarlet's search, Cinder searches for her beginning and tries to make sense of how she became a cyborg while not remembering anything before 11 years old.
• The male counterpart characters get even better as the story continues
• Prince Kai becomes emperor in the middle of the first book. His character hasn't disappointed me yet. He is given the tough decision to marry Queen Levana because this marriage means life and death for the entire Earth.
• Carswell Thorne gets introduced at the end of Cinder when Cinder is put into jail. He is pretty cool despite being extremely flirtatious. He reminds me of the adorable guy that knows he's attractive but still can't get a girl. It makes him more lovable.
• Ze'ev Kelsey, or more commonly known as Wolf, is my favorite male character. He has a hidden secret and has to fight the power of doing what his leader tells him to do as he tries to help Scarlet in search of her Grandmére.

Cons:

• It was hard for me to nitpick this one, but I still would have appreciated the book if it was put in the first person. Again, the reason for that is the multiple main characters.
• I felt that there was not enough attention given to Emperor Kai because this series is just enough about him as it is about Cinder. I guess this could be because it is trying to focus more on the female characters rather than the male characters.
• I was a little confused about how Scarlet and Wolf get united with Cinder and Carswell Thorne. It was so sudden and disorienting between the two alternated chapters. I felt that the fight scene was the reason why the meeting became so sudden.

Critics' Reviews:

“The sci-fi elements are stronger than the fairy-tale allusions this time out, but the story remains just as absorbing. . . . Readers will be thrilled to discover that this steampunky fairy-tale/sci-fi mashup promises two more installments.” ―BCCB
“Returning fans of Meyer's Cinder will gladly sink their teeth into this ambitious, wholly satisfying sequel.” ―Publishers Weekly

“The author has stepped up the intrigue and plot from the first novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting the next.” ―School Library Journal

Marissa Meyer's Website:
http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Review Wednesday: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer
1st Date of Publication: January 3, 2012

ISBN: 9780312641894
# of Pages: 390

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 13 (Death, Bullying)

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Book Description:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Setting: New Beijing in Futuristic Earth
Point of View: 3rd person- Linh Cinder

Goodreads Rating: 4.14

My Rating: 4.35

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: Well, I have a thing for shoes but this heel is very classy-looking (and I have a pair just like it myself). The part that really peeked my interest was the metal bones, which made me think she was a cyborg.
View on Title: The script is pretty interesting and intricate. When I think of the word cinder, I think of dirt and dust such as the cinder from a fireplace. I figured it was about a Cinderella character.

Pros:

• First off, I think the cover and title together work perfectly to show what the main character is by name and what's she is made of.
• I think the characters are very well encapsulated in this fantasy rendition when comparing it to the original fairytale. Plus, cyborgs are cool and Cinder is a mechanic, a cyborg mechanic. Instead of talking to animals like the original tale, Cinder talks to androids and machines which makes the story more unique. Plus, she's funny. She's like a guy's dream girl, or at least I would think. She is the "man" to go to, which is funny because Prince Kai originally thinks Cinder is a male.
• For Cinder's family, I have specific feelings for each one and allows the characterization of Cinder to flourish. It stays true to the fairytale in family relationships for the most part....
• I love how Cinder's younger sister, Peony, likes Cinder to show that Cinder is not completely hated, which makes her a little more likeable. Plus, Peony gave Cinder the motivation to fend for herself.
• Cinder's stepmother, Adri, and older stepsister, Pearl, despise Cinder as the original tale goes. But, wow they are really cruel.
• Prince Kai is pretty awesome from the characterization. He does not seem too judgmental and he is willing to sacrifice his life for his country. That's the kind of leader that I wish the United States had.
• I think it's interesting how it's set in China in what they call New Beijing in the Eastern Commonwealth, which adds diversity to the literature world.
• There is a lot left hanging and hinted at when it continues to talk about Princess Selene and it constantly makes you want to read to the next book. (Good thing every book for the series has been published).

Cons:

• I so wish this was in first person. I was a little upset that it wasn't, but after I read more of the series a year ago I understood the reasoning behind the third person.
• I don't think Queen Levana is a con, but she is a villain and a really good one. She is hot and tries to hide her imperfections through a power that Lunars have that is called glammer. She reminds me of Regina George from Mean Girls for some reason.
• I wish there was more characterization of Prince Kaito because he seems to be a really decent and smart guy, but there is not much to base on.

Critics' Reviews:
“First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fairy tales are becoming all the rage, with the TV shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm spinning them through a modern filter. The 26-year-old Meyer's debut novel Cinder, though, combines a classic folk tale with hints of The Terminator and Star Wars in the first book of The Lunar Chronicles young-adult series due out Jan. 3.” ―USAToday.com
“This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Marissa Meyer's Website:
http://www.marissameyer.com/

Other Recommendations:

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis