What a wild ride. And how sad am I to think that it's over. Thank goodness Stars Above, the short story collection set within the Lunar Chronicles universe comes out February 2nd. Never have I been so excited for a short story collection from within one YA fantasy universe. 
 Winter brings us to the Snow White of our fairy tale universes here. But it also has to wrap up all of the shenanigans we've been establishing over the last three books, probably why the finale clocks in at over 800 pages. Cinder finally makes a power play for the Lunar throne, but we know Levena isn't going down without a fight. And Winter finally brings us to Lunar to play for a while. 
 While Winter as a character is centralized, she doesn't feel as central as our other female protagonists were in their novels. This actually works, because Winter isn't completely sane, and it would be hard to do her justice throughout on a more focused narrative. How Meyer handled it works beautifully. We get to see her as a complex, strong individual, who also has some major problems. I also love that while her beauty is commented on throughout, it is emphasized that her scars, her imperfections, only enhance her beauty. Also, while I enjoy Winter, I've put too much time in with these other characters to want them to be on the periphery for the last novel. 
 I am going to miss these characters. Meyer crafts such wonderfully individual, complex, strong females, and males, in this series it is going to be a shame to say goodbye to them. They do not disappoint at any point in this go-around. I must also say, while I was attached to these characters in a very visceral way and I was anticipating that happy ending, I never felt they were safe throughout the novel. There were stakes, and there were lives on the line. Did they all make it? And if so in what state? You'll have to get through the 800 pages to find out. 
 While the fairy tale homages didn't feel as significant this go around, they were still there. We still got all of the major Snow White plot points. We got the number 7 all over the place (which is obviously important to Snow White, but is also a magic number of sorts in fairy tales). Still, the revolution plot became the key in Winter. And, as usual, Meyer wove them together in a smart way. For such a long finale, the pacing really works. It zooms along quickly, and Meyer's quick wit and levity shine through even in the darkest of places. And, if not, Thorn can be found in some of the heavier scenes still snarking away.