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 Silvara on

5 of 5 stars

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This book reminded me so much of Sailor Moon. With cyborgs. And androids. And Cinderella. I totally knew what had happened to "Princess Selene" before it was revealed at the end of the book. But that was okay, because so much of the plot was this huge neat twist, I needed to know what was going to happen next.

I liked Peony, and while I understand why it had to happen, I still hate that it happened. Iko was fun and I'm hoping we get to see more of her in the next book. I'm super curious about the unnamed blonde Lunar girl, and want to know more about her as well. And Kai? He was pretty darn cool. Maybe slightly unbelievable how fast he got attached to Cinder, but everything else I liked about him. (No worries, it wasn't even close to insta-love.)

Cinder herself was all kinds of awesome. She had faults and strengths, and even though her step-mother and elder step-sister were horrible to her, she never let it get to her. She kept her eyes on her goal. The car she found was kinda neat, even if it didn't last long.

I loved how the 'glass slipper', the 'pumpkin into a carriage', and the 'fairy godmother' were interpreted/twisted in this book. They were unexpected and unique. If you haven't read this book yet, you need to. I'll be picking up book 2 soon!

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 April, 2015: Finished reading
  • 29 April, 2015: Reviewed