BOOK REVIEW | Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Title: Stars Above
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series? Yes, this is a bind up of short stories set in Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series.
Pages: 400
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: I checked out the audiobook of Stars Above via Libby. 

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

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The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

Goodreads

**spoilers ahead for the Lunar Chronicles!**

The Keeper

The Keeper is a short story about Scarlet's grandmother, and her time taking care of Cinder before she was awoken. I was glad this was the first story in the collection, as I actually forgot some key plot points since finishing the series. Listening to this story was a perfect reintroduction, and allowed me to recall the series without getting confused. I also loved seeing a young Scarlet and her grandmother's struggle to keep Cinder a secret. 

I give The Keeper 5 out of 5 Stars! 

Glitches

Glitches follows Cinder right after she is awoken and taken to her new family. We see her meet the Linh family and learn her place in the family. Pearl, her adoptive mother, is cold and prejudiced against the cyborg. We also see the introduction of letumosis, the disease that wreaks havoc in the series. I liked seeing Cinder as a young child trying to navigate her new life, and thought the story foreshadowed her position in the first book, Cinder, very well. 

I give Glitches 4 out of 5 Stars!

The Queens Army

The Queen's Army is a short story that follows Wolf's introduction to a special branch of The Queen's Army. If I'm being honest, I completely forgot about the Queen's specialized army. Seeing Wolf's backstory was great, and it added more depth to a character that was one of my least favorite of the protagonists' when I first read the series. 

I give The Queens Army 5 out of 5 Stars!

Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky

Thorne was one of my favorites of the series. I liked seeing his backstory, but seeing Carswell is school wasn't necessarily the story I wanted to see. I kind of wanted to see his shenanigans as a pilot, but instead we saw him as a teenager and his dedication to becoming a pilot. Seeing Carswell tricking everyone in high school was so entertaining, and I also liked seeing his gentler side. 

I give Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky 4 out of 5 Stars!

After Sunshine Passes By

This is also another backstory short story, and this time, for Cress! We see Cress before she was confined, and I seeing her being so innocent and happy was bittersweet! We also see her start her new position, and I just felt so bad for Cress. She really trusted that she would have a better life, so it was sad to see her innocence stripped away. Not only does After Sunshine Passes By give more insight to Cress' character, but also augments Queen Levana's cruelty. 

I give After Sunshine Passes By 4 out of 5 Stars!  

The Princess and the Guard

The Princess and the Gaurd was one of my favorites of the bind-up! Since Winter and Jacin were introduced in Winter, I didn't have as much time to connect with them as I did other characters. I liked them in the final book, but I didn't love them as I did everyone else. Reading this short story gave me the introduction I needed and made me really care for the characters. I think this short story was one of the most rewarding to read. 

I give the Princess and the Guard 5 out of 5 Stars!

The Little Android 

Undoubtedly, The Little Android is my least favorite in Stars Above. The Little Android is essentially The Little Mermaid but in the Lunar Chronicles world. The story didn't feature any of the characters from the series, unlike the rest of the stories, and I didn't like the whole love triangle thing. Honestly, I would have loved to see a book about an android who was unable to communicate more than a short story. That way, the characters would have been better developed and the plot more intricate. 

I give the Little Android 3 out of 5 Stars!  

The Mechanic

The Mechanic was Cinder and Kai's first meeting, as we see in Cinder, but from Kai's point of view! I loved seeing Kai's inner thoughts and how flustered he was around Cinder. Kai and Cinder were my favorite couple (also Thorne and Cress, I flip flop), and I just loved seeing there meet-cute! 

I give The Mechanic 5 out of 5 Stars!  

Something Old, Something New 

Something Old, Something New is the epilogue I yearned for after the end of Winter. This short story takes place during a certain someone's wedding, and it was great to see the whole entire cast back together. I loved the camraderie among them, and to see them be more relaxed and at ease in compariosn to the series. It was lovely to see all these characters again, and the best story to end the bind up with. 

I give Something Old, Something New 5 out of 5 Stars!

As you could tell, I really enjoyed listening to Stars Above. It was wonderful to get back into the world of The Lunar Chronicles and revisit the characters I fell in love with years ago. Reading this made me want to go back and reread the series! I don't know when it'll happen, but I definitely want to. The narration was wonderful, and brought to life all the characters. If you are a fan of the series, I would definitely recommend this bind up of short stories! 

Have you read Stars Above? What did you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!