Initial Impressions 11/28/15: Final rating probably 4.5 stars 
 Whewwww it's over! I don't know whether to be happy or sad. It's so hard to part with a series I've come to love so much! Okay, so spoiler-free thoughts... 
 I did love every piece of this but there were parts that I didn't fee AS engaged so that's where from a "rating stand point" it's not a full five stars. I do understand that we had a lot to go through and a lot to set up to get here though! 
 I missed those bits of the relationships that truly bring me in and make me swoon -- there are some GREAT parts but I'm greedy and I always want more! 
 Ahh I just can't believe it's over. The ending was just perfect and I feel very satisfied! I'm so glad to hear that STARS ABOVE has an epilogue because gahhh I need even more still! 
 Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 12/14/15: How does one read the last book in one of their favorite series much less REVIEW it? Actually, as highly anticipated as WINTER was, I really do have some coherent thoughts. (They're much more coherent than I was with CRESS, I think, because I've been preparing for this!) 
 Let's start off with the amazing, shall we? I absolutely love that this series adds layer upon layer with the story and the characters. We finally get to meet and spend time with Winter in this book and it was so awesome to have that final piece of the puzzle fall into place. This book had some serious #squadgoals when this team comes together and I adore how they just fit together as a crew so well. Their personalities just mesh, their stories collide, and it's absolute perfection. 
 I also love how much these characters evolve over the course of the series. It's really about getting to know each one of them as they're simultaneously going through the most complicated things of their lives. I really got to see their true character and how much each one of them grew throughout these experiences. 
 ALL THE SHIPSSSS. Cress and Thorne are my absolute favorites and they have some really, really great moments in this book. I've been rooting for them since CRESS and their relationship is just too adorable. Things really start to amp up with another one of my new favorites ships -- Cinder and Kai. Yes, yes, I know. You guys have been on board since CINDER but I didn't quite get into their relationship as much until CRESS and then I fell in love all over again with my re-reads. I just love their banter and how much strength each of them has not only individually but together. They had some super sweet moments and some really serious ones as well that really pushed my love for them over the edge! I actually do wish there had been a few more swoony moments? Oh boy were there some big ones... But I'm such a sucker for these relationships that I just want more! 
 The second half of the book really started to bring everything together and this is where the action was at! I actually wished a few more "holy cow" moments had happened in the beginning/middle because as exciting as all that action was, I didn't quite feel stunned until later on in the book. Naturally, though, the halfway-point is where it's at! The pacing really picked up and the book took off running and I was so excited and scared and happy all at the same time! I rather enjoyed the take on Snow White and it was really fun to see some very obvious comparisons (especially after hearing Marissa tell us the tale at her WINTER signing!) and then realize much later on that something was totally fairy-tale related and I hadn't even realized it the whole time (the mining sector, right)! I just loved the ending and how much non-stop action there was. These characters came into their own and really proved how brave they were to stop crazy old Levana from tearing the world apart. 
 So as we know, I'm a huge fan of The Lunar Chronicles. To start reading the final book was a mix of emotions with excitement and sadness dominating them all. I think because I was really not ready to say goodbye, I MAYBE ended up distancing myself from the book so I wouldn't be too heartbroken when it ended and that could be the reason why I didn't feel AS connected as I had with the other books. There's also the fact that there's just so much going on throughout this finale (it IS over 800 pages, after all) that it is a lot to take in. That's not a bad thing but there is a whole lot of action, many characters, high stakes, and final countdowns so it really is putting that final sense of urgency on everything. I also have to say that Winter was my least favorite leading lady. It was just really hard to connect with her because of her visions and illness. It's just a thing for me where I have a hard time connecting to characters who are more childlike or fanciful. Cress was definitely on the naive side but she wasn't childish, and I felt like it was hard for me to connect with her the way I had with the other girls. Obviously she's incredibly strong for being able to keep from using her Lunar gift all these years and that's the reason why she's been going mad but that aspect still was a bit hindering for me to really love her as much as the other girls. 
 WINTER was absolutely wonderful and while I don't think it was my favorite of the series (honestly, I don't think series-enders are EVER my favorites of the series -- too much pressure!), I still absolutely loved it. I will forever be in love with the world that Marissa Meyer created and I can't thank her enough for this beautiful series. It's brought me so much happiness, allowed me to work with so many awesome people, and has even presented me with amazing opportunities to become more involved in the book community. I'm so joyful that I read it (thanks, Alyssa!) and I'm sure I'll keep re-reading it for many years to come!