Teen Lit Rocks

Literary Crushes: Kai, Wolf, and Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles

March 7, 2014 By Diana 4 Comments

Marissa Meyer‘s “The Lunar Chronicles” series is the latest choice of topic for Sandie and I since I recently finished reading the whole series. We’ve had fun discussing the three couples, but most especially the male counterparts. Since we love all three of them we decided to feature them together as our latest “literary crushes.” One of the reasons we love this series so much is that Meyer has done something refreshing — she did NOT create a love triangle for our protagonist as is the case in so many popular YA series. Instead she gave us three very different, but equally engaging heroes and heroines.  There is so much to love in Cinder, Scarlet and Cress, but Kai, Wolf and Thorne are truly Meyer’s tour de force.  So without further ado, here’s why we love them. Spoiler Alert – If you haven’t read “The Lunar Chronicles” you might not want to read this

Kaito /Kai/Emperor Kaito

Age: 18 years old

What does he look like? Kai has gorgeous copper brown eyes and black hair with bangs that always seem to hang unkempt across his brow or in his eyes. He is also quite tall. He always seemed to have to bend down to be at eye level with Cinder. Kai has good features as well as looks. He is humble and has a genuinely good-nature. He is extremely nervous about becoming Emperor and doesn’t feel that he is truly ready for the pressures that come with that job. He is also very sarcastic which sometimes gets him into trouble.

What does he do? Kai is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth. 

Whom does he love? Cinder

Why him? Wow, why not him? He’s down to earth despite being the Emperor of one of the most powerful commonwealths in the future. He falls for Cinder despite the fact that she’s (at first) “just” a mechanic. Even after finding out that Cinder is a cyborg, he still can’t stop thinking about her and wishing for her safety. Even after he discovers other secrets about her, he can’t help but love Cinder and her courageous, independent spirit.

Favorite Kai quote

“When Kai fell silent, she risked a glance at him. He was staring at her hands [which she always holds mechanic gloves over to hide her...you know, cyborg hands]…
“Do you ever take those off?” he asked.
“No.”
Kai tilted his head, peering at her as if he could see right through to the metal plate in her head…”I think you should go to the ball with me.”
She clutched her fingers…”Stars,” she muttered. “Didn’t you already asked me that?”
“I’m hoping for a more favorable answer this time and I seem to be getting more desperate by the minute.”
“How charming.”
Kai’s lips twitched. “Please?”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“I mean, why me?”
Kai hooked his thumbs on his pockets. “So if my escape hover breaks down, I’ll have someone to fix it?”

Wolf/Ze’ev “Z” Kesley

Age: 23 years old

What does he look like? Wolf has eyes that are unnaturally green like “sour grapes still on the vine.” He has hair that sticks out in every direction in messy clumps. He has an array of scars on his face and he has olive skin. He also has broad shoulders and bulky arms that were built for manual labor.

What does he do? At first Scarlet believes that Wolf is just a street fighter and doesn’t like him — although she admits he’s attractive. Later she discovers that Wolf is actually an Alpha Lunar Special Operative — a genetically modified Lunar for the purpose of fighting like a bloodthirsty predatory animal.

Whom does he love? Scarlet

Why him? Even though he’s a genetically modified super soldier with fangs and a seriously dangerous animalistic side, he grows to love and adore Scarlet. She’s the one for him, and he’s willing to give up everything he has been bred to be and do to protect her. Wolf could easily snap Scarlet in two, but he rages against those killer compulsions to defend her instead.

Favorite Wolf quote

“Wolf, are you asking me to be … your alpha female?”
He hesitated.
Scarlet couldn’t help it – she burst into laughter. “Oh – I’m sorry. That was mean. I know I shouldn’t tease you about this.”
Still grinning, she made to retract her hand, but he was suddenly gripping it, refusing to relinquish the touch. “You just look so scared, like I’m going to disappear any minute. We’re stuck on a spaceship, Wolf. I’m not going anywhere.”
His lips twitched, his nervousness beginning to ease away, though his hand stayed tense over hers.
“Alpha female,” he murmured. “I sort of like that.”
Beaming, Scarlet gave a mild shrug. “It could grow on me.”

 

 Carswell Thorne/Captain Thorne

Age: 20 years old

What does he look like? Thorne has bright blue eyes, a square jaw and “devilish” dimples.

What does he do? Thorne was a cadet in the American Republic military. Although he was a cadet, he preferred the term “Captain.” When he was nineteen, he removed his ID chip, stole a spaceship, the Rampion, and deserted the military. Eighteen months later, he was found and arrested in the Eastern Commonwealth.  It was in prison that he and Cinder crossed paths.

Whom does he love? Cress, although he doesn’t realize it for a long time.

Why him? Meyer has stated that Thorne is a “Han Solo” meets “Mal Reynolds” character. What’s not to love about a character loosely based on both of those sexy rogue captains? Thorne is funny, irreverent and ridiculously cocky. He is usually rather narcissistic, admitting feelings only for his Rampion spaceship. But readers see his tender side in “Cress,” in which he finally gets to show his swoon side.

Favorite Thorne quote

“A relieved grin filled up Thorne’s face. “We’re having another moment, aren’t we?”
“If by a moment, you mean me not wanting to strangle you for the first time since we met, then I guess we are.” Cinder slumped back on the floor. “Although maybe I’m just too exhausted to want to strangle anybody.”

*All fan art by the incredibly talented Laura Hollingsworth