Cinder by Marissa Meyer Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
on 2012-01-03
Length: 390 pages
Reviewing eBook from TN R.E.A.D.S.
Rating:
Reading Challenges: COYER Winter 2014-2015
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A forbidden romance.
A deadly plague.
Earth's fate hinges on one girl . . .CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future.
This is not the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won't forget.
A cyborg Cinderella….really?!
So that was my initial reaction a few years back when Cinder by Marissa Meyer hit the shelves. In fact, if I’m being honest, that was my reaction to ALL fairy tale retellings. My thoughts were why mess up a good story. Well, I’m here to confess something to you…
Cinder is just…I was just so…OMG!!! It was amazing 😀 Who knew a cyborg Cinderella could be so awesome?! Cinder is a renowned mechanic (how convenient) in the town of New Beijing, part of the Commonwealth empire. When Prince Kaito arrives with his android for her to fix, Cinder discovers more than just a broken android, but a plot to overthrow the kingdom.
The author seamlessly interweaved her own sci-fi story with the classic! Cinder is the loathed step-sister/daughter who was adopted by the now deceased husband of Adri. Adri doesn’t want Cinder, but keeps her because since she is a cyborg, she is property. All the money Cinder makes as a mechanic, goes to Adri. Basically she is like free labor. Pearl and Peony are the angel daughters, except one of them is truly kind to Cinder and I her! Then there’s Prince Kai who only has eyes for Cinder just like in the classic. There’s even a ball where the Prince dances with her….but this is where the similarities end.
Cinder is an intriguing lead lady. She’s kind-hearted, if a bit naive and wants only her freedom. She has no memories of her life before she was adopted at 10, and I found this strange. Luckily the author explains it later on in the story. Cinder’s competent but she is also extremely insecure with her cyborg nature. Cyborgs are less than human and as such are not looked at as human in the Commonwealth. They are treated as mere machines, with no feelings and no rights. So when the prince approaches her stall with his android she hides her mechanical parts so as not to reveal them.
Prince Kaito….oh my prince! He is thoroughly distraught in this book, except for when he is with Cinder. She takes his mind off the problems surrounding his kingdom, like the fact that his father has just died of Letumosis (the plague that is killing the populace) and now at 19 he is the emperor. Oh and you can’t forget the pressure to marry queen of Luna (the first colony established on the moon hundreds of years ago) in an attempt to bridge peace. Prince Kai is naive, hard-working, and wants to marry someone of his own choosing, not for peace, and not a tyrant. So he has a plan, he’s searching for the long-lost princess of Luna, the rightful heir who is rumored to have escaped to earth and is in hiding. His plan is to find her, but he hasn’t really thought the whole thing through.
Meyer does a fantastic job of building this dystopian world. The plague, the colony on the moon, and the advanced technology along with the decaying lifestyles is intriguing and even believable. I can’t wait to read more 😀 And the cliffhanger….
It’s one of the worst I’ve read in a long time. I’m not sure I can wait for book two to be available in the library!!! If you enjoy young adult dystopians or are looking for a different kind of fairy tale with some hi-tech science fiction involved, go read it now!
About Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Heartless and The Lunar Chronicles. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and twin daughters. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, any occasion that requires a costume), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg.
Cinder is actually my least favorite in the series, still good but I didn’t love it. On the other hand, each book gets better and better in my opinion. I hope you enjoy the next books in the series as much maybe even more than Cinder.
Kay @ It’s a Book Life recently posted…Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Withering Hope by Layla Hagen
Oh I hope so! I’m a little weary about the next books adding new characters instead of focusing on the MCs from Cinder.
Ah I just love this series so much. It is quite awhile since I read Cinder but I did read Cress just last year, and if possible, it is even better than Cinder, and I really enjoyed Cinder. I think Cinder is a great female protagonist and they are few and far between in YA literature.
Loved the GIFs btw 😉
Edel @TheIrishBookworm recently posted…Book Review and Discussion: Golden Son by Pierce Brown *Spoiler-Free*
My thought exactly! I look forward to reading the rest of the series 😀
I rereading this series now! (: I felt the exact same way about Cinder! I was skeptical about the whole retelling of Cinderella thing, but when I read it.. WOW! Marissa Meyer definitely has a knack for making these old tales completely original! Can’t wait to read your reviews on the rest of the series!
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I can’t wait to start them. I have them on hold at the library just waiting (not-so patiently) for my copy 😀
Yay! I really liked Cinder as well. And I agree, that cliffhanger was brutal. 😛 I’m trying to pace myself with reading the series since there’s a bit of a wait until Winter comes out but I’m itching to start Scarlet.
Yeah, it was better than I thought it would be too. I didn’t try it till the end of last year and now I really need to read Scarlet..getting way behind..lol.
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Do you know I almost didn’t read this book, because like you I was like a Cyborg Cinderella? Then I read the first few paragraphs and was like no thanks…It wasn’t until I had read a review that made me think to give it one more try and like you I was blown away.
Great review, Lillian, now you need to read the other ones ASAP 🙂
PS I still have not read Cress but I plan to at some point before winter comes out 🙂
Thanks Michelle! I have Scarlet on hold at the library. I’m hoping it’s available SOON!!
[…] I didn’t think it was possible, but I LOVED Scarlet even more than I did Cinder. This book picks up right where we last saw Cinder and the author does something that usually […]
[…] from The Lunar Chronicles is a new favorite. I didn’t start the series until this year and let me tell you I love it! […]
[…] Cinder by Marissa Meyer – Ah-MAZE-ing!!! I cannot believe I put off reading this book til just a few weeks ago. It has to be one of my new favorites. Cinderella as a cyborg….human colony on the moon….plague killing off the humans on earth….yes it is fantastic!!! […]
[…] Cinder by Marissa Meyer – I’m in love with this series. Though I will admit that I didn’t care much for Cress. I started reading them in January of this year and I couldn’t stop. I cannot wait for Winter! I’m sure it will be on my Top Ten list at the end of the year 😉 […]
Oh my gosh, yes! This is why I love fairytale retellings so much. They take an old favorite and weave in all these new and exciting aspects. The Lunar Chronicles is (so far) my favorite adaptation of fairytales. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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