Title: Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles #0.5)
by Marissa MeyerPublishing Info: January 18, 2012 by Tor Books
Source: Read for free on Tor.com
Genres: Dystopian
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: July 10, 2013
Related Posts: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1), Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2), Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (Lunar Chronicles #3.1), Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1), Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2), Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3), Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4), Stars Above (A Lunar Chronicles Collection), Heartless, Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 (Wires and Nerve #1), Renegades (Renegades #1)
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…
Obviously being in love with CINDER and SCARLET, I had to read the novellas or the “in-between” stories that go with The Lunar Chronicles. GLITCHES is a quick story going back in time to before we start CINDER. It’s actually a glimpse into Cinder’s first experiences as she’s taken in by the Linh family.
WHAT I LIKED
-
Seeing the very first encounter of Cinder & the Linhs
- Actually seeing Cinder’s step-father and witnessing exactly what happened to him and why he’s not around
- We really got more emotion and a little more back story of Adri versus Cinder. I mean, I always understood that she didn’t like Cinder for many reasons, but seeing this prequel actually made me a little sympathetic to her. Obviously I’m still on Cinder’s side but hey. I can kind of get it.
- Iko!!! I love little Iko and even she has a backstory in GLITCHES!
- Peony! She’s always been such a sweet girl.
WHAT I WAS MISSING
I can’t say I was disappointed by GLITCHES but really the only reason why I don’t feel like I can give it a rating as a separate story was that because it wasn’t quite a separate story. It’s absolutely a prequel to CINDER and I loved seeing the very beginning of Cinder’s memory, really. It was short and sweet, but there really wasn’t too much as far as a separate story line or plot goes since we know most of all of this in bites & pieces from CINDER.
Title: The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles #1.5)
by Marissa MeyerPublishing Info: November 20, 2012 by Tor Books
Source: Read for free on Tor.com
Genres: Dystopian
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: July 19, 2013
Related Posts: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1), Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2), Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (Lunar Chronicles #3.1), Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1), Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2), Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3), Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4), Stars Above (A Lunar Chronicles Collection), Heartless, Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 (Wires and Nerve #1), Renegades (Renegades #1)
It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen’s army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen -- and to himself -- that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.
Okay, so THE QUEEN’S ARMY was much more exciting as a novella for me. Firstly, the story is about Z, a boy who is taken to Luna to be a part of the Queen’s army and what exactly those transformations entail. I’m basically FASCINATED with Luna and anything about it so I gobbled this one up. Also… HOLY COW, Marissa Meyer!! It’s possible to put so many interesting twists in a novella that’s actually not that long!? It was awesome. I highly recommend that fans of the series read both, but THE QUEEN’S ARMY was kind of amazing.
WHAT I LIKED
-
Luna! What can I say? I’m kind of obsessed.
- Seeing the backstory of “new” characters. We already got a lot of backstory from Cinder in CINDER so that’s why GLITCHES didn’t appeal to me as much. THE QUEEN’S ARMY revolves around Z, and well…. It just gets better from there!
- Details. We get to see a little about Luna here and there in CINDER & SCARLET — Some in chapters, some from the knowledge of the characters — but I felt like I didn’t get a lot of how Luna really operated. This was sort of an inside scoop and we got SO many details about the structure, the government, and the inhabitants.
WHAT I WAS MISSING
I was only missing that there wasn’t more! I could have read a full length novel about Luna, Z, and this crazy queen. Or at least a longer novella! I just wanted more story because it was that little taste of Marissa’s writing and these amazing worlds she’s created after SCARLET and before I read CRESS.
Go read them!!!! If you’re a fan of the series, I think both are worth the read, especially THE QUEEN’S ARMY. They’re quick, fun, and FREE to read on Tor.com!
9 thoughts on “The Lunar Chronicles Novellas | Glitches (#0.5) & The Queen’s Army (#1.5)”
These two novellas were awesome! i loved getting more of a glimpse into the world + characters that Marissa has created, as that always enhances my reading experience with a series. While I’m sure it’s not necessary to read these, it can’t hurt to check them out if you’re a fan. I agree though – I much preferred The Queen’s Army to Glitches.
I read Cinder and LOVED it but my question is can you read the queens army before you have read scarlet? because a lot of these novellas need information from the subsequent book even if they take place before it…
I would say you can read it before Scarlet! I think for me it made it more awesome reading Scarlet first because it does relate to characters in Scarlet. You won’t be lost if you read The Queen’s Army first but I think it’s better if you do 🙂
Thankyou
I did not know you could read these for free! Sign me up! The Queen’s Army sounds so interesting. I’ve been dying to know more about Luna since the start of the series. Great review!
I really liked Glitches and I can’t wait to read The Queen’s Army, I’ll have to get on that right away! I love this series so far along with the shorts 🙂
Given how obsessed I am with The Lunar Chronicles, it’s appalling that I haven’t read these two yet. Glad to hear you liked them! I love extras that add a little more depth to the actual series.
I read Glitches a while ago but actually just read The Queen’s Army from the link you posted and you’re right, I just wish there was more. I legit almost cried when Ze’ev had to leave his family. I need MORE!!
Yup yup yup! I pretty much agree with everything you said here. While I enjoyed both, The Queen’s Army was definitely a more exciting read since it brought something new to the table. Glitches was, like you said, stuff we pretty much already knew. But, the world and storyline in The Queen’s Army is one we hadn’t yet been able to really explore.
And now we just need to read Cress! Ahhhhh!