Friday, October 19, 2012

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Book One in the Lunar Chronicles)


What a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L cover
 5 Wonderful Stars later...

It is clear from the title that this book is a take on the Cinderella story (I will admit I am a sucker for new takes on fairy tales). There is a girl who is pushed down at every turn, and a ball and a prince.

This is a futuristic story set in New Beijing. After the fourth world war, the countries of the world have been consolidated down to only 6 ruling countries. New Beijing is ruled by an Emperor and the story allows us to get to know the Crown Prince, Kai. He is charming and very likeable.

Cinder is a cyborg that has been adopted into a family. For the purpose of this story, a cyborg is a person who has had robotic parts attached to their body in place of missing limbs, etc from accidents. Cyborgs are considered second class citizens. The adopted father died very soon after adopting Cinder and left her the mercies of her evil stepmother and 2 stepsisters (one likeable, one not). Cinder is put to work as a mechanic and has an android Iko for her best friend.

There are moon people in this book! And they are called Lunars. Basically they are humans that traveled to the moon a long time ago but has since changed into another race of beings with powers normal humans don't. Earthens are afraid of them and they have good reason. Their Queen is evil and is coming to New Beijing.

There is a plague spreading over the whole Earth, claiming more lives. Prince Kai must decide whether to save his people (if he can), or himself.

The rest of the story takes us through Cinder's relationships with Prince Kai, a scientist whom you wonder "Is he good or bad", but eventually that becomes clear, her little sister Peony and her desire to flee New Beijing.

It was a super fast read, I read it in 2 days. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. It didn't make me obsessive after finishing the book, but I am still thinking about the characters and what happens next a week later and I can't wait for the next book with Little Red Riding Hood. Why oh why are they only coming out once a year!

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