Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
(Lunar Chronicles #1)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: January 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts: Sometimes I really do wonder why I wait so long to read certain books. Is it because I don't want to jump on the bandwagon? Or is it because I'm afraid it won't live up to the hype? I'm not sure. All I know is once I finally started reading Cinder, I freaking couldn't put it down! I've never really been huge on the whole Cinderella story (Sorry, I much preferred the Disney movies with the animal main characters), but mix a bit of science fiction and fantasy, even a bit of dystopia and you have something I love! Thank you Marissa Meyer for writing this! I'm very much looking forward to reading Scarlet and continuing this series.

Cinder is quite the character. As a cyborg, she basically has no rights and her stepmother hates that she's been left with her. I'm not really sure why, she at least has someone to work to pay her bills. She takes all of Cinder's money that she earns from working. Luckily, only one of Cinder's stepsisters is evil, except the one she loves gets sick, with a disease that there's no cure for ...yet. Cinder gets "volunteered" for medical research to create a vaccine, since cyborg lives aren't worth anything it seems. Miraculously, she survives and is immune. To say I didn't see the ending coming would be a lie. I quickly figured out who Cinder was and was eagerly awaiting the time she'd find out.

Just like in Cinderella, there's a ball. BUT, the Prince already knows who Cinder is, well he thinks he does. I have to say, when she showed up to the ball, I was laughing quite a bit with the image, I'm not going to ruin it for you though! Then the "glass slipper" thing. Poor Cinder. There really wasn't much she could do.

Again, I can't believe I waited so long to read this one. Marissa Meyer really did a great job writing Cinder and I can only hope the rest of the series is just as good, if not better. There's just something to be said for a great book with sci fi elements. Always a great thing. So, if you are anything like me and have been putting off reading this, please stop missing out and read it! I really had a hard time putting it down! You won't regret it! Luckily, Scarlet will be out soon!

Are Audiobooks more your thing? Well Cinder is available in audio format! Here is a preview of Chapter One for you to listen to now!