If so, this should be an all around fun read. If you’ve gotten this far into the series, one would presume you’re able to overlook the magical “science” and embrace this as a sci-fi fantasy. She’s not in this one a great deal, but when she does come into full play, it’s well worth the wait. Note: I love the android character of Iko more with each passing book.

And fortunately for all, his off-the-cuff candor and sarcasm is both abundant and endearing. Thanks to a handicap that tests his over-confidence, he’s forced into a rapid maturation process. Rather than remaining the somewhat irritating playboy sidekick we came to know in the second book, the captain comes into his own in terms of heroism and comedy. Thorne is by far the highlight of this story. There’s just enough recap on previous events to sufficiently refresh past readers or draw in those who didn’t get a shot at one or both of the previous books. Erland, weaving the most complex storyline we’ve yet seen. She continues to juggle other goings on concerning Prince Kai, Lavana, Scarlet, Cinder, and Dr. The author really seems to have her writing feet under her now, and she’s off and running right out of the gate with this book. Trade out the isolating tower for an isolating spy satellite, break up the team with a failed rescue attempt, and you have the premise for the primary plot thread in this book.

The story of Rapunzel is retold with more similarities to its original fairytale than seen in the previous books, complete with Captain Thorne acting as the thief who would be prince. Cress is easily the most naïve of the female leads we’ve seen so far, though with good reason-and not without the redemptive trait of ultimately showing the most progress by way of character growth. Meyer adds yet another cast member to the save-the-world team in this, the third installment of the Lunar Chronicles. I’d have to call this one the best in the series thus far.

Cinder cress scarlet