Cinder // Book Review

I did it! I finally did it! I finally read a Sci-Fi/Fantasy and it was amazing!

This week I finished reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer and let me tell you now, if you haven't read this book go and pick it up now. You won't regret it.

Let's get on with the review:

Title: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Format: Paperback

Pages: 387

Published by: Puffin Books in 2012

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Goodreads page here.

Goodreads 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 centre 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 Review:

Cinder is the first book in The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer. This is the first book that I've read by Marissa Meyer and I immediately fell in love with her writing.

Cinder is a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella, with a twist. Cinder, the main character, is a cyborg. She was made into a cyborg at the age of eleven and has no idea why, she can't even remember the first eleven years of her life. Cinder lives with her stepmother Adri and two stepsisters, Pearl and Peony. Together, they live in New Beijing in a world full of high technology, with androids acting as servants, doctors and friends. 

Cinder is New Beijing's best mechanic and has to work to support her family. One day, whilst fitting a new foot to her cyborg leg in her place of work, a new customer walks through the door. The new customer being the one and only Prince Kai, everyone's dream man.

Unfortunately, the world is being taken over by an awful disease which is taking hundreds of people's lives every day. Doctors are working day and night to find the cure but are failing miserably. When Cinder finds herself in the labs where the leading doctors are, things go from bad to worse as big secrets are uncovered. Secrets that could help save the world.

I have to start off with saying that I hate Queen Levana, Adri and Pearl so much. They are so horrible to Cinder! However,  Prince Kai is just perfect and Peony was so sweet.

Queen Levana is a Lunar, she lives up in space and brainwashes everyone into thinking she is beautiful and makes them live their lives under her strict rules. Anyone that doesn't follow those rules suffers a cruel punishment, or even death. I really disliked this character, but she did make a great evil Queen.

The second I picked up this book, I was hooked. The story was amazing from the very beginning and not once in the book did I get bored. It was one of those books that I just couldn't put down, it followed me everywhere, from bed, to the dinner table, to the bath. (I love reading in the bath!)

'Even in the future the story begins with Once Upon a Time'

I felt like I was there with Cinder going through everything with her, I wanted to step in and give her advice and ask her if she was okay. It was as if the characters were real. I loved the descriptions in this book, Marissa Meyer truly is a great writer.

I loved how this book showed that no matter what deformity or imperfections you might have, you're still like everybody else. We are all the same, no matter what we look like. What upset me was the many characters in the book didn't believe that, looking down at Cinder for being a cyborg when really she was just the same as them, just a bit more unique. Cinder didn't let this bother her too much though, yes she hid her cyborg limbs to avoid stares and comments from strangers but she still made sure she lived her life and made the most of what she had.

Now, when I read that huge plot twist at the end (if you've read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about!) I literally squealed with shock and delight. I am so, so happy with how the book ended but now I'm left waiting impatiently for the next book to come in the post.

If you haven't guessed already, I really loved this book and can't stop thinking about it. The fairy tale retelling was so well done, it didn't follow the fairy tale too strictly, it was perfect.

I have given this book five out of five stars.

You'll enjoy this book if you enjoyed...

The Tethering by Megan O'Russell

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Have you read this book?

If so, what did you think of it? I would love to talk to someone about it!

Speak soon,

Em x