Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer | Review

Title: Wires and Nerve, Volume  1
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 240
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Goodreads rating: 4.14 Stars
Published:January 31st,  2017
Source: Hardcover/bought

Description:

In her first graphic novel, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller Marissa Meyer follows Iko, the beloved android from the Lunar Chronicles, on a dangerous and romantic new adventure -- with a little help from Cinder and the Lunar team.

In her first graphic novel, bestselling author Marissa Meyer extends the world of the Lunar Chronicles with a brand-new, action-packed story about Iko, the android with a heart of (mechanized) gold. When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity. With appearances by Cinder and the rest of the Rampion crew, this is a must-have for fans of the bestselling series.


My Thoughts:

I really love that, unlike a lot of graphic novels out there for YA series, this one actually expands on the original stories, picking up where they left off.  While it is really fun to see the graphic novel versions of some of the books I've thoroughly enjoyed, its even better when a series I've loved is expanded on.

Wires and Nerve brings Iko to the foreground of the story, expending on her as a character and showing just how human she can be {while still being very much an android}.  I listened to the audiobooks for three of the four {five, if you count Fairest} of the Lunar Chronicles, and I loved how Iko was read.  She quickly became one of my favorites - her spunk, vulnerability and desire to have a real, honest-to-goodness life were wonderful to read.

I would give this 5 stars, but the illustrations were not what I was expecting after having read a few of the other books that have been redone as graphic novels. But the storyline is great and takes the reader back into the Lunar world. It's pretty great to see Iko go off on her own and be a kick-butt hero!

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson | Review

Title: The Golden Braid
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Pages: 320
Publisher: Zondervan
Goodreads rating: 4.06 Stars
Published:  November 1st, 2015
Source: Hardcover/gift

Description:

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.


My Thoughts:

First, I"m a huge fan of Tangled, and my kids were on a Tangled kick for a while there, and I swear I was watching it at least once every few days.  I've always been a fan of Rapunzel, because *hello* HAIR.  I think a lot of young girls of my generation went through a phase with one person they looked up to or were enamored with having long hair.  Who has better hair than Rapunzel?  But I digress.

Melanie Dickerson's Rapunzel was very interesting.  I feel like this book had more layers that her others have been lacking.  And where the last couple books in this series have had leading ladies who were trying to be more self-sufficient and strong on their own, Rapunzel took the steps to do that.  In fact, if it weren't for a sad twist of fate, she would have succeeded {but where would the adventure and fun be in that?}.

Mother Gothel is as reclusive as she forces Rapunzel to be in most the book, and is constantly telling Rapunzel that men are evil and only ever want one thing, then they will leave you.  This is drilled into Rapunzel, but a time comes when she starts to see that Mother Gothel may be wrong about saying all men are like that.  With some of the new-found independence {and the knowledge she's gained by learning to read without Gothel's permission}, Rapunzel decides to go out on her own, getting a reputable job away from the oppressive house Gothel was running.

I don't want to spoil the book for any potential readers, but twists and turn and unexpected revelations keep this one of the more interesting books in the Hagenheim series.  I would definitely suggest this to those who enjoy YA fairytale retellings!  I would suggest starting with the first in the series {The Healer's Apprentice}, but that's definitely not a necessity {though you would find out histories to the leading ladies in the previous books}.

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson | Review

Title: The Captive Maiden
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Pages: 306
Publisher: Zondervan
Goodreads rating: 3.93 Stars
Published:  November 23, 2013
Source: Paperback/Bought

Description

Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothering bu servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela meets the duke's son, Valten-the boy she has daydreamed about for years-and learns he is throwing a ball, she vows to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent  on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts

I'm a big fan of Melanie Dickerson, and The Captive Maiden was no exception. The author has a way with fairytales that really just make you love them, and I do love how she brings God and scripture into each one.

Gisela is everything you would expect a Cinderella-esque heroine to be: beautiful, kind, caring... and mistreated.  She lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters in her father's house, trying to keep her stepmother from selling off all of her late father's beloved horses.  She shares the love her father had for the animals, preferring them to her step-family.

The book changes the meeting between Gisela and the prince {or in the case of this book, the young lord} much like the live-action Cinderella movie Disney released a couple years ago - a chance meeting in the woods.  Though Gisela isn't quite as whimsical as Lily James' Cinderella, she still has the kindness we all love in our little Cinder-girls.  While The Captive Maiden is a fairtale retelling, it does try to show a little how life would have actually been during that time period {although fairly loosely}.  Like needing a male escort to go to the market {or face unwanted attention from rude men} or being completely at the mercy of your family, not matter how much you disliked them and didn't agree with how they were running the family's affairs.

However, one thing that was much more fairytale than real was the leading man's choice on a wife: he was able to pick from any of the single, beautiful females of the land.  Lord Valten has been a little shafted in love, since his betrothed married his younger brother.  But he isn't too upset by that, as he hardly knew her, yet alone loved her, and his younger brother was quite in love with the girl {and she with him}.  After traveling and competing in tournaments for a while, Valten decided it was time to go home and settle down.  Enter Gisela and a chance meeting in the marketplace.  They quickly bond over their love of horses and both find the other very attractive.

While there was some typical, expected elements to this book, it took a rather unexpected turn a little over halfway through, and had at least one good "what in the world?" moment towards the end.  If you like fairytale retellings or just want to give one a whirl, this would be a great one to pick up.  Though I would suggest starting with the first one, as this is the fourth in a series and would ruin the others with some of the information causually thrown out later in the book.

Overall, it was a great quitck read and I would highly recommend it!