Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa MeyerPublishing Info: January 3, 2012 by Macmillan
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: January 5, 2013
Related Posts: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2), , Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles #0.5), The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles #1.5), Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (Lunar Chronicles #3.1), Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1), Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2), Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3), Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4), Stars Above (A Lunar Chronicles Collection), Heartless, Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 (Wires and Nerve #1), Renegades (Renegades #1)
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.
Yes, I FINALLY read CINDER, you guys!!! It’s about time, I know. I had put it off so long because come on. Cyborg Cinderella? Moon people? No way was I going to like that story. It just seemed impossible. But thanks to all of the encouragements and gentle aggressive prods from my fellow bloggers, I knew this was one that I really had to try before judging so quickly!
So, Cinder. Yes, she’s a cyborg. I’m not a big fan of sci-fi as far as robots and the like go so I wasn’t really sure how this would come off, but really it seemed quite natural in the story. I guess I also wasn’t really clear on what a cyborg actually was because it’s not like Cinder is a robot (which is kind of how I was picturing it) – No, she was once a fully living and breathing person, all whole and intact until after a tragic accident (which she can’t remember), a scientist put Humpty Dumpty back together again (oops, wrong fairy tale) with robotic parts, from limbs to internal wiring. Now you’d think everyone would be like “Hey, cool, you’ve got these awesome abilities!” but not in New Beijing. Cyborgs are treated as less than human, so not only does Cinder have to deal with her wicked step-mother, but everyone else treats her like dirt too.
Hey, I just met you and this is crazy…. But call me Cinder – I’ll comm you, maybe
Okay, enough plot recap. Now let’s talk about how I felt about it.
Ummm. Wow! I admit, maybe it was the hype about the book that I didn’t quite make it to the five-star rating that a lot of people have given it, but CINDER truly stands on its own as far as retellings go. I was really impressed with how much we see of the classic Cinderella tale we see in CINDER, but also how original it is in its own right. I was actually really impressed with the science fiction aspects of the book — like Cinder’s cyborginess (shh, that’s a word) and even the presence of the androids seemed totally natural. I was incredibly wary about the Lunars at first – I mean, a moon nation? Nuh uh. No way — but the way they were so different yet so similar to the Earthen people made for some really interesting plot turns and even villains. There IS a lot of sci-fi in the book, but it’s done so well (and I may have even caught a Star Wars scene tucked in there?) that I think it’s absolutely enjoyable by people who don’t like science fiction or dystopians.
The ending of the book was brilliant and really got me gripped in the last 100 pages or so. Now I cannot wait for to read Scarlet (secret: I’ve heard it’s even better than CINDER) and good thing I have amazing friends who are sending me their ARC copy to borrow!! YAY!
CLICK HERE!
AUDIOBOOK: Although my review isn’t for the audiobook, I’ve heard so many great things about it! As a little incentive to check it out, here’s a clip from the audiobook, courtesy of MacMillan (thanks!) – Just click on the image to the right to hear the sample from the CINDER audiobook! UPDATE: I’m actually planning to re-read the entire series via audio so I’ll definitely let you know how it goes!!
Cinder: Gosh darnit, Cinder, you really impressed me! And one thing I totally wasn’t expecting was her sarcasm and snarky attitude (although not always and not overly so because that gets tiresome) but hell yeah, Cinder you tell ’em! She was the perfect Cinderella redone and I like her new attitude and determination!
Kai: Yes sir, I can’t wait to see more of Kai and Cinder! I love the relationship that develops between them. Super impressed by the way Marissa Meyer weaves their interactions without revealing all of Cinder’s secrets to Kai.
Queen Levana: I’m supremely creeped out. And that’s that.
BUY IT
What a great first book in the series! I loved so many things about CINDER and it really had it all: romance, action, adventure, magic… I can’t wait for more!
BOOKS LIKE CINDER
23 thoughts on “Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) – Marissa Meyer”
I have been looking everywhere for a great retelling of fairytales with a new twist. Your excitement over this book, which I thought sounded strange and have been passing on reading it for too long, made me seriously doubt my good book detecting skills. I can’t wait to see how the author can bring such a magical story like Cinderella to life in her own way!
I love science fiction movies, but I haven’t read much in the way of science fiction books because they seem really intimidating. I did read Cinder though, and I was impressed. I don’t normally advance past the first book in a series, but I did recently pick up Scarlet, and I’m hoping to start that soon. Ya’ know, I know this is an older post, but when I saw the link to it come across my Twitter feed I couldn’t help myself. Perhaps this is a sign that I need to read Scarlet sooner rather than later!
LOVED the Call Me Maybe jab! Too funny!
Awesome review!
Been meaning to read this one for ages. Great review! 🙂
What an awesome review!! Your description of Cinder’s character has convinced me to pick this one up 🙂
Yay! I’m so happy that you finally read this one, Brittany. I’m continually pushing this on people with the ‘Really–it’s so much better than it sounds!’ tag because yes–cybord Cinderella did sound a bit off. Who knew it would be so incredibly awesome!? I just love all of the characters so much, I even love to hate Queen Levana. So excited for you to read Scarlet–it’s even better!
Thanks, Heidi!! I can’t wait to read Scarlet!! I’ve heard so many great things about it!!!!
Ok, I really really need to get my hands on this book. It’s official, I am the last person to read it. 🙂 Great review!!
YAAAYYYY I LOVED THIS BOOK (and this review!) The “call me maybe” part actually reminded me more of dirty dancing “I carried a watermelon?!” but I see what you are saying…Kai is yummyyy but wait until you read Scarlet…I NEED Cress to be out NOW. Desperately hoping they will showcase that baby at BEA!!
Great Review. I can not wait for Scarlet either. Glad you have heard that it is even better the Cinder. =]
Totally a Star Wars reference. The next book, Scarlet, has a character who’s a dead ringer for Han Solo!
Awesome!!! I cannot wait to read it 😀 😀
Great review. I have to agree with the hype of the book part. Cinder didn’t get 5 stars from me either. I did really really really enjoy it, but it just didn’t blow me away like I had hoped. I do, however, recommend this book to almost everyone as well. I loved the different take on Cinderella.
I’m truly glad that you enjoyed this one! It was one of my favorite reads of 2012, as I found the story to be imaginative, the characters endearing and the plot very interesting. Scarlet is indeed wonderful, and I can’t wait for you to read it!
The whole sci-fi thing is the only reason I haven’t read this book yet. But clearly that most likely won’t be an issue. I still don’t know if I’m going to read it, but your review has caused me to keep it in consideration 🙂
I’ve *got* to read this soon, especially since I’m really interested by the looks of Scarlet. This book didn’t really seem like my thing, but I keep seeing great reviews like yours, so I’ll have to give it a try! 🙂
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
I HATE science fiction, so even though I heard so many wonderful things about Cinder when it was released last year, I never even thought of reading it. But I finally did read it, and oh my stars, this will be one of my favorite books I read this year. I listened to it via audiobook, which is completely amazing! I might be getting an ARC of Scarlet, too, and oh my gosh, I need to read it.
I gave this 4.5 stars.
I haven’t published posted my review yet, but plan to next week. I am glad you liked it so much. I think the cover is perfect!
I loved this book, but it took me forever to warm up to it. I spotted the word “cyborg” and put the book back on the shelf quite a few times, but it ended up fitting in the story so well! I loved the characters of Kai & Cinder both, but especially Cinder. She’s a much more proactive Cinderella than in many retellings/versions. I’m so excited for Scarlet now, words don’t even do it justice.
Wow, glad you liked it. I admit to being turned off by the same things in the premise, so now I think I’ll give it a try 🙂
I agree – I really liked Cinder – her character is so memorable. And a futuristic, sci-fi Cinderella re-telling – gosh darn it, the author is so imaginative!
Oh, great review! Now I’m surely gonna put this higher in my TBR. 🙂