Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: January 3rd 2012
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Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.
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. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
I wasn't aware of this book until I saw Jenni's [
Xpresso Reads] book haul in 2012 (I think) where she got an arc of Scarlet and she raved and raved and raved about it and then some. Sci-fi isn't really my thing, but at the time Jenni and I liked some of the same books so when I finally started noticing Cinder on the shelves of my local bookstore, I couldn't walk by anymore. I got it. Gave it a try and stopped half way through, because I wasn't enjoying myself. I was bored, the world and the characters weren't as awesome etc. Then last fall, 2013, I decided to try again. HOLY SMOKE, PEOPLE! What was I thinking before? O____O
“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
The world Marissa Meyer has created is mind-blowing because it's crafted with original ideas even to the tiniest details and still manages to remind you the original story of Cinderella and Prince Charming. It reminds us why we all love them, though most of the time it marches to its own beat and a completely unique one at that. The scenery of New Beijing is fascinating and vivid, compelling us to turn page after page to know more.
The characters, starting with Cinder, Kai (aka Prince Charming if you weren't aware) and Iko
—Cinder's best friend and confidante, who also happens to be an android, were all amazing. Yes, Cinder's POV is very scientific. That was the part which put me off, because I'm in no way technology savvy and I'm lucky I know how to click something on/off and idk.. Know what a HDMI is. I found it hard to follow all the technical stuff, but at the same time, Cinder as a mechanic would be pretty pointless if she didn't think or talk in terms of science and technology. So, I guess if I want her quick mind and snarky attitude, I must take the incredible technology savvy brain as well? Heh.
I found there to be some pacing issues, because I still wasn't as excited to pick it up every night or whenever I had time to spare, but I did thoroughly enjoy the plot. It follows the original story pretty closely, but as I said before, manages to be unique in every way that matters and takes the original Cinderella story to new heights. The book is divided into four separate books and I found the last part to be the best, because it just grabs your attention and you cannot put the book down anymore. I did guess the big shocking reveal way before since it was hinted at multiple times, but it didn't bother me, because I needed the confirmation. I guess the revelation makes sense since that's how the very first original story by
Basile is as well.
Anyhow, it's another example in addition to Anna and the French Kiss where I previously thought I disliked the book, but after a year or even more, it turns out that it's
the book for me. I enjoyed every single moment of Cinder and I will most definitely follow this series through to the very end. If you haven't started this series yet, do so, please.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Stars: ★★★★
Meet the author
