Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Series stays exciting with hacker heroine, daring rescues.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 38 kid reviews
Kids say this book is an exciting continuation of the series, with a relatable main character, Cress, who evolves significantly from a timid girl into a strong heroine. While it includes elements of romance and some violence, readers appreciate the strong role models and character development, making it a compelling read for teens and young adults, though some caution about the age difference in romantic relationships and the violent themes.
- character growth
- strong role models
- some violence
- romantic elements
- relatable story
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Cress considers herself the definition of a damsel in distress. She's been stuck alone in a satellite for years against her will, spying on Earthens for Queen Levana of Luna. If only Carswell Thorne -- handsome spaceship captain and wanted criminal -- would come to her rescue. In exchange, she has a lot of dirt on her dangerous queen that Thorne and Cinder, Lunar cyborg princess-in-hiding, will want to know. First of all, Emperor Kai should not marry Levana, even if she's willing to exchange her hand in marriage for the antidote to Earth's deadliest virus, because Levana wants to rule over all of Earth and Luna herself (cue maniacal laugh). Finally, Thorne's ship responds to Cress's call and docks on her satellite, but the rescue goes down in about as tangled a mess as Cress' crazy-long hair. Between kidnappings and crash-landings in the Sahara, how on Earth and Luna are they supposed to stop Kai and Levana's wedding on time?
Is It Any Good?
Yes, it's true: In CRESS, it does take almost 500 pages for Cinder and Kai to see each other again; luckily, with the introduction of Cress, the 500 pages is worth the wait. She's the most naive character readers will find themselves rooting for. It must be something about her amazing hacker skills. And somehow Thorne ends up a lot more likable when he meets Cress.
Marissa Meyer's great characters will draw readers in first, and they'll stick around for all the impossible situations: the characters rescuing Cress, saving Wolf from a bullet wound, stopping a royal wedding. What'll be next? Saving the world/worlds? Yup, it looks like that's what's in store for Book 4.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Rapunzel fairy tale. What about Cress is the same? What's different? Did you pick up on why the author named her love interest Thorne?
When did you get into the Lunar Chronicles series? Will you read the fourth book? What do you like most about it? Who's your favorite couple?
Cress daydreams about Thorne in her satellite while spying on him and learning everything she can that's recorded about him. Does she really learn everything about him? Can you learn everything about someone from, say, their Facebook page and a Google search?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Fairy Tales ) , Robots
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel and Friends
- Publication date : February 1, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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