Cress: the Lunar Chronicles book 3 by Marissa Meyer 552 pages

The third book in the sci-fi/dystopian twist on fairy tales that is The Lunar Chronicles ramps up all the pre-existing tension of the first two books.  The romance, violence, and drama are all set to new highs.  This had just the right amount of romance for me, since I don't care for the bodice-rippers.  It really takes a back seat to the adventure and action surrounding all the main characters.  Cress (Rapunzel) has been held captive on a space station for years, using her tech skills to hide Lunar ships, spy on Earthens and do the bidding of the horrible Sybil Mira.  When her story gets woven into the main story of Linh Cinder, everything starts to get buck wild.  I can't wait to read the fourth book!

Scarlet: Book 2 of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 454 pages

Scarlet's grandmother is missing and the police refuse to accept Scarlet's theory that she was kidnapped.  A mysterious street fighter named Wolf offers to help, but how far can she trust him?  Meanwhile, Cinder is going to have to break out of prison and start figuring out how to take down Queen Levana.  This installment is full of action and adventure.  This is a solid sequel that only makes you want to snag the next book immediately!

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, 69 pages

This is a slim gem of a Neil Gaiman fairy tale.  On the eve of a Queen's marriage there is a mysterious sleep that is overtaking the kingdom.  The Queen sets out with her trusty dwarf companions to find the culprit.

Adventure, strong women and homages to Snow White and Sleeping Beauty follow. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer, 448 pages

Cinder is retelling of Cinderella with a science fiction twist.  I like a good fairy tale so I gave it a shot.  I liked it.

Cinder is a cyborg in a future world that is celebrating 126 years of peace since World War IV.  She doesn't get a fairy god mother, but she does have a nasty guardian, who she refuses to call a step-mother, and two step sisters.  One nice, one not so much.

Cyborgs are humans who have lost limbs and are partly computerized.  They are considered second-class citizens.  Cinder is a gifted mechanic and is the only breadwinner in the family, even though she is only a teenager.

The only problem with this book is that it is part of a series and I didn't realize what I was getting into when I started it.  The story did NOT end with Cinder getting the prince and living happily ever after.  The second book in the series is a twist on Little Red Riding Hood.  Sounds like fun so I will stick with Cinder and put the next book on my to-be-read list.  I believe the author plans 4 books in the series, with 3 out so far and the final book to be published in 2015.

Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-tale Detectives by Michael Buckley 284 pages

Life in general has not been all it's cracked up to be for sisters, Sabrina and Daphne.  Everything was great until the day their parents disappeared.   Suddenly, the girls were thrust into the foster system and bounced from home to home.  Often, they bounced themselves out of homes.  A message comes quite unexpectedly from a woman very far away that she is their grandmother and wants them to come live with her.  The social worker is ready to wash her hands of the two, so not much investigating goes into verifying this fact.  Needless to say, the girls have their doubts.  After all, their parents told them all their relatives were dead.  Who is this woman?
To confuse matters even more, there are very strange goings-on in the village of Ferryport Landing.  Can the girls find all the answers they're looking for and find the home they've been needing for so long?
This is a great book for kids around 8-10 years of age.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman, 288 pages

Stardust is a fairy tale for adults.  Tristran Thorn is a young man who lives in the village of Wall.  One night while walking his crush, Victoria, home they see a star fall and Tristran promises to find the star and bring it to Victoria.  In return Victoria promises to fulfill Tristran's desire if he brings her that star.

Tristran must cross a real wall on the border of Wall to find the star.  The wall is guarded 24 hours a day and no one is allowed over it, except to attend a faerie-laced flea market held every 9 years.  Faerie is on the other side of the wall. Tristran's dad helps get him over the wall and the adventure begins.  Along the way he meets a wonderful cast of characters, including the beautiful Yvaine, otherwise known as the fallen star.

Stardust was first published as a 4-part graphic novel, Neil Gaiman later published it as a novel and now there is a movie version too.  I had the pleasure of listening to the book, available to check out on Missouri Libraries 2 Go, and read by Neil Gaiman.  What a treat!