Novella Mash-Up Reviews: Glitches, The Little Android, and The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles 0.5, 0.6, and 1.5)

I recently read Cinder by Marissa Meyer (see my review here).  It was a wonderful read (4.5/5 stars, my review).  I saw on Goodreads that there are a few free e-novellas that are associated with the series and I decided to read them.  These are my reviews for 3 out of 4 of the currently published e-novellas.  I plan to read Scarlet during next weeks read-a-thon.

Book Title: Glitches

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: December 5, 2011

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (0.5)

Plot (from Goodreads):  

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. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch...

 

Review

This is a good novella and a great addition to the series. It is good to learn more about Cinder's family.  I loved learning more about Cinder when she was young and about her early relationships with the family.  Although this talks about Cinder's childhood, I think that this book should be read after Cinder is read.

 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some intense scenes

Overall Rating: 4/5

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Book Title: The Little Android

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: January 27, 2014

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (0.6)

Plot (from Goodreads):  

The Little Android is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles by New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

When android Mech6.0, saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her body is destroyed and her mechanics discover a glitch in her programing. Androids aren’t not meant to develop unpractical reasoning or near-emotional responses…let alone fall in love.

 

Review

I felt like this novella added the least amount to the series.  It did show the relationship between humans and cyborgs and androids.  It was nice to have more depth to how the humans felt about the androids and the cyborgs, but it did not add to the main storyline that is in Cinder.  This is a cute and very sad story.  I enjoyed reading it, but I wish that these characters were present in the main story.  In my opinion, this novella can be read before or after reading Cinder.

 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any age

Overall Rating: 3.5/5


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Book Title: The Queen's Army

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publish Date: November 23, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (1.5)

Plot (from Goodreads):  

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.

 

Review

Although this is a very short novella,  I really felt connected with the characters.  I felt like this novella really adds to the series.  I cannot wait to read more about Z and his brother.

My only complaint is that I really do not understand how the cover matches the series covers (Cinder, Scarlet, ect.).

 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some violence and intense action scenes

Overall Rating: 5/5