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3.5/5
Non-Fiction
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Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 400
Started: 1 January 2024
Finished: 2 January 2024
Summary:
This anthology of short stories set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles recounts a set of moments, some from characters' pasts, some from characters untouched by the events of the main series, and one telling the story of the beloved characters' futures.
Thoughts:
The first handful of stories in this anthology are lovely snippets of background information on different characters. It's fun to be back in Cinder's head for the story about her first day in her adoptive household, for example, and interesting to get a deeper understanding of Scarlet's grandmere's motivations in taking young Princess Selene in. Being back in Meyer's sci-fi world is simply comforting and enjoyable.
Yet it's the final three stories that have the most impact. The standalone short story retelling of The Little Mermaid is a heartbreaking piece, touching and convincing and helpful in raising questions about the extent to which androids can have life and emotion. The story centered around Winter feels even more vital. Perhaps it's the lack of visions, or the innocence of having such a young narrator, but this story presents her as good in a way even her eponymous book does not; the story's insight into her motivations and sacrifice is very valuable. Finally, the last story, recounting the wedding of Wolf and Scarlet, is unbearably sweet. It is satisfying and hopeful and stuffed full of witty banter. Without the stress of having to save the world, the story simply offers a snapshot of nine friends who deserve to be very, very happy.
I'm so glad this anthology exists as a way to dull the impact of the series being over; it's a satisfying set of snippets that is the perfect wrap-up to a really excellent series.