Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)

by Marissa Meyer

Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder's brain interface has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it “a matter of national security,” but Cinder suspects it's more serious than he's letting on.

Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder's intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that's been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter's illness, Cinder's stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an “honor” that no one has survived.

But it doesn't take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.

Reviewed by Jordon on

4 of 5 stars

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Review originally posted at Simply Adrift.

Wow, I loved this story! I might be a little biased though because Cinderella is my favourite fairytale. Still.

Cinder is set in a futuristic China that is ravaged with the plague Letumosis, the emperor is trying his hardest to find a cure but is still desperately searching. Cinder is a girl that lives with her adopted family, her step-father Garrett adopted her and brought her home to his wife when she was young but Garrett died of Letumosis soon after he returned. Her step mother Adri hated Cinder and blamed her for the death of her husband, since she a cyborg (Cyborgs exist but are looked down upon), she treats Cinder more like the house help than a daughter. Cinder spends most of her time in the markets as a mechanic that can fix broken androids but her money goes to Adri and Cinder's living costs.

The premise of Cinder was amazing and so exciting. The design on the book is so beautiful. The font used; the chapter titles; the title page. I really just loved it and will definitely be getting myself a copy! I loved reading it and I feel so sad that I’ve finished it now, the second book is due for release next year. That’s so far away!

This retelling of Cinderella was very interesting since it’s set in the future. The technology advancements were subtle but also very logical and were realistically on the path of where we would be going with it. I actually loved the cyborg idea. The fact that there was a ratio of human to cyborg parts was pretty cool. The cyborg’s themselves sounded pretty darn cool too. Well, Cinder did anyway, we never actually met any other cyborgs.

I really enjoyed reading this. I did feel like some of the story dragged where I found myself wishing it would hurry up to the more exciting parts or perhaps the more romantic-in-the-Cinderella-way parts but that wasn’t too often. This story isn’t just based around the ‘romance of Cinderella’ either, it feels like it is actually a sub plot to the bigger picture. I liked that, it has way more substance and I found it was a lot deeper. Although the ‘bigger picture’ is still tied in with the actual fairytale. In other words, it’s a really fun read if you like fairytale’s, also if you like Sci-Fi in a YA setting. So I am pretty excited and interested to see where it goes next.

I just loved the premise! The futuristic spin on Cinderella with Sci-Fi elements? Totally awesome!

I recommend this book to anyone that loves YA Sci fi, romance, and fairytale retellings.

Always,
Jordon

This review was originally posted on Simply Adrift

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  • 9 April, 2012: Reviewed