Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Goodreads Summary: Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
Rating: 5+ Stars
Review: Lady Catherine Pinkerton was not always the cruel Queen of Hearts. At first, she was but a lonely young girl with a head full of dreams. Dreams of running a bakery, living a happy life and falling in love. However, this fantasy was never meant to last.

I'm speechless. At every turn, a new happy resolution is introduced and every single time, I believed it. My wish for Cath's happiness seemed to come and go, but not once did Marissa Meyer leave readers in the dark, dangerous pit of despair; happiness although brief existed during the darkest moments.

Can we all stop for a second and appreciate Jest? From the moment he entered the book universe, I loved him. With each appearance that love  only got stronger which is the main reason why this book, although I loved it, most certainly broke my heart. He is mysterious, brave and loyal.

When Catherine's baking is introduced in the first chapter, I marvelled at the sheer amount of detail that lined the first page. Description did not go to waste in Heartless at all. Although I haven't read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, this book has all the necessary information for those who may not know the story so well. No prior knowledge of Wonderland is assumed, similar to Danielle Paige's Dorothy Must Die series Heartless is a beautifully crafted complex adventure into Wonderland.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Fans of Danielle Paige's Dorothy Must Die.

Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Goodreads Summary:
Rating: 5+ Stars
Review: Wait a sec... This was 824 pages?! That explains the size, but not the speed..

Somewhere inside of me, I knew this would happen; I'd devour Winter. After all, I was already two-thirds through yesterday, after about three hours of reading.

The battle really intensifies in the conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles. Have I mentioned that The Lunar Chronicles Series is definitely the best fairytale retelling series I have ever read? Because it's true, and by a long shot. I usually stay away from fairytale retellings, but I didn't realise this was retelling until I actually picked up Cinder.

Marissa Meyer combined Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White and created four volumes of a series, The Lunar Chronicles, and managed to keep the storyline from Cinder going throughout the other three books, and without deterring from the meaning of each fairytale, and making sure to include the most important scene, twisted, in each book.

I really, really, enjoyed Winter. It was long, but definitely worth it (unlike some other long books I've read). I am a speed reader by nature, but it's very rare that I read a book as long as 800 or so pages in two days, or about six hours without getting bored. I pretty much read Winter without stopping, except to sleep, and eat. Marissa Meyer is a true, genius storyteller, and I can't wait to read her books in the future.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Amazon
Recommended for: If you've ever read a fairytale retelling, read this one. I guarantee it's better.

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme by Sarah @ Breaking The Spine.

This weeks WoW:

Winter by Marissa Meyer

I have been anxiously waiting to read Winter so it was the perfect fit for my first WoW post.