Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mark her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

“Right now, a kiss is the going rate for near-death experiences. It's kind of a point system.”

Warning: review may contain spoilers for other books in this series. 

When I first started listening to Winter, I thought there was a glitch on my phone, because Libby (my library app) said it would take twenty-four hours to listen to the entire book. After doing a little research, I discovered the physical copy has 827 pages, so it made more sense.

Despite the length of the book, it never felt like the story lagged. It kept a nice pace, and there was always something new happening to one of the characters. They were constantly splitting up, so the perspective and the place would often change. I think it gave a broader view of the world and the different issues the characters were dealing with.

I adored Winter and Jacin! He has loved her since they were children, and not once did he think she was broken. He didn't chastise her for refusing to use her gift, and he was always trying to be there for her when it mattered. Even when he's away, he's thinking of her and trying to return to her side. I really enjoyed their relationship, and how selfless they both tried to be for one another.

I also liked Winter's interactions with Scarlet. I thought the two of them shared a special relationship, even if Scarlet was locked in a cage for most of it. Winter did everything she could to ease Scarlet's suffering, and she thought of her as a friend long before Scarlet felt the same way. When Scarlet called Winter crazy, or referred to her delusions, it was an endearment and said with affection.

I thought Meyer did a wonderful job adding new characters every book. Each new book would focus on someone new, but characters from previous books still played a large role. It made the story more complex and interesting. I loved viewing the story from multiple perspectives, and not always knowing what everyone was thinking. I felt like it added a little more mystery and suspense to the overall story.

I liked the fairy tale connections, and was relieved when they didn't overwhelm the story. Meyer has created something that's entirely her own, while still dipping her toes in the stories we've heard our entire lives. I loved the twists she added, like the spin on Snow White's apple, and how they applied to her books.

Thorne was a little unlikable when he was initially introduced, but he quickly grew on me. Especially after he met Cress! I really liked that Cinder, Cress, Scarlet, Winter, and even Iko, were strong female characters that depended on themselves. They knew when to ask for help, but they didn't wait around for someone to save them. They fought for their friends and the people they loved, they were smart and innovative, and they took the initiative to improve the lives of others.

I thought Winter was the perfect culmination of the other books, and really enjoyed how the final book in the series played out. I was curious how the author would end things, and if everyone would survive, and I'm pretty satisfied with the ending. I was left feeling hopeful and imagining new lives for the characters. They may be on separate paths now, but they've forged friendships that will last a lifetime. I think everyone got the ending they deserved, while still leaving things open for the future.

I'm looking forward to reading Fairest next. I know some people recommended reading it before Winter, but I decided to wait before learning about Levana's history. I'm sure it would have helped me to understand why she was the way she was, but now I still have something to look forward to!

I highly recommend this series to everyone. Rebecca Soler is one of my favorite narrators, and I thought she did a marvelous job with these books! The Lunar Chronicles was such an enjoyable series, and one that I cannot wait to read again. The characters were fantastic, the world was incredible, and the delivery of the story was perfection.