Title: Cinder
Cinder is a retelling of the classic tale of Cinderella. The plot of the book mainly follows the story of Cinderella. The evil step-mother and step sisters, the Prince, the ball, the dress, midnight striking, they're all there. But kudos to Marissa Meyer for putting such an incredible twist to the story everyone knows and love.
The book is set in New Beijing, centuries ahead of our time. It is a
world filled with magnificent technological developments and unfamiliar,
breathtaking environment, yet it is plagued by a deadly disease that
threatens the survival of the whole population. Add in the fact that
there are Lunars, creatures native to the 'planet' (moon), Lunar.
Cinder is an exceptional mechanic, the best, but this is because of the fact that she is a cyborg- half human, half robot. Cinder is a kick-ass heroine- strong, thoughtful, and cares for others, especially her robot friend, Iko, and her not-so-evil step-sister, Peony.
The prince, Prince Kai, is just the absolute best. Seriously, I was swooning every time he popped up. But he's not just a pretty face. He has a great personality. He is kind, charming and actually gives a damn about the people he rules over. The budding romance between him and Cinder is adorable. There aren't many moments where they interact with each other and it will take a while for them to actually fall in love with each other. Which is fantastic. I am grateful that the author decided to choose this path for their love. It makes it more realistic and the reader will enjoy reading about the development of their relationship.
The book was kind of predictable, since the story did follow Cinderella, and the plot twists and the cliffhanger ending was a bit transparent. But it didn't matter. I had too much fun reading it. I would recommend this book to everyone. An original fairytale retelling set in a dystopian society mixed with science fiction elements. What could be better?
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles (1)
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: 3 January 2012
Date Read: June 2012
Rating: ★★★★★
Meyer did a good job of building the world of New Beijing. It was engaging and original.
