Book Review - Cress

Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 3)
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: 6 Feb. 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0141340159

Synopsis
In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has. 

My Review
So I've been totally absorbed by this series, and I couldn't wait to get into book 3 - in fact I finished book 2, ran upstairs to get this one and then read half of it in one sitting. I've heard rumours that many people think this is the best book in the series, and i would have to say that so far I agree. Cress is obviously supposed to be a Rapunzel figure - locked up in a satellite (not a tower) with long hair and a desperate need to be free. I loved the twist of her captivity and the fact that she actually had a purpose up there, something to focus on, and a desperate will to do the right thing. Her slightly devious nature is very endearing. She comes across as quite young for her age - but she has been locked on her own with no social interaction or chance to develop naturally with only her 'mistress' for guidance who visits every couple of weeks and takes blood samples.
As before, her story ties in with that of Cinder, Scarlet, Thorne and Wolf. Meyer is very good at weaving separate story-line together, they fall into place perfectly, as though they were always supposed to meet. Yet everyone still has their own individual personality, opinion and end goal. They all play their own parts and roles whilst fitting in with the others and I think it is quite masterful. 
Cress is probably my favourite character overall, I really liked her naivety yet strong-willed nature.
Cinder has really developed as a character and is becoming much more complex, she still has a steely determination to solve her own problems, but she's also starting to think about the needs of those around her and begins to work more with her companions and realise that they can help her too.
I absolutely love Iko as a ship, but also as an escort droid. - to be honest, I jsut love her eccentric personality. 
Thorne has really grown on me too, he's still a self-centered egotistical jerk at times, but also starts to reveal a more sensitive caring side.
This book brings together a lot of the storylines that have been stirring over the previous 2 books and it gets very exciting. 
I read this in just 2 sittings overall, and practically clawed my way through in my desperation to finish it and see what comes next. This has made me love the series all the more and I can't wait to see what comes next in the final book.

My Rating