REVIEW: Cinder (Luna Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

 

Author: Marissa Meyer

Pages: 390

Series: Lunar Chronicles

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Amazon: Cinder

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

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.

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars

Cinder is book 1 in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and was one of my most anticipated reads for 2012 and after having such a great run with the YA genre already this year I am so pleased that it didn’t fail to disappoint.

Linh Cinder is a Mechanic living in the Eastern Commonwealth capital of New Beijing. She is part human part Cyborg and was adopted as a young girl remembering nothing of her past.

Cinder has a stifling family life ruled by her cruel step-mother Adri, her only saving grace is her sweet sister Peony and her Android best friend Iko. But when Peony contracts the deadly plague outbreak ravaging earth known as Letumosis, her life is turned upside down.

Cinders life begins to change when it becomes intertwined with Prince Kaito, she is tasked with repairing his android and along the way begins to have feelings for the Prince.

Prince Kai is about to have his congregation to become Emperor since losing his father to Letumosis, but taking on the role as leader is the least of his problems; he is also fighting against the threat of war against Queen Levana and the Lunar empire as well as trying to avoid an alliance of marriage to her.

I loved Cinder as a main character, she was determined despite the life she was having to live; not only was she an embarrassment to her family and being blamed for her sisters illness but she had no answers to her past, I am curious to see how everything pans out for her in the sequel as she learns of who she was and is; I really wanted her to gain her freedom and independence. Prince Kai was a bit weak for my liking, he was quite relaxed for a person in his position but I am hoping with what he has to face with war looming he strengthens as a character; I also wish there was a tad more romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Meyer’s take on the classic Cinderella fairytale which has always been one of my favorites, I was mesmerized by the incredible world building; it was fascinating, unique and thoroughly entertaining. Each of the main characters were developed well and we get quite the glimpse into each of the secondary characters.

Cinder grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention. It was clever, creative and original and I loved Ms Meyer’s writing style. Parts of the story were quite easy to predict but it never took away from the enjoyment of the actual story.

All in all, Cinder was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I am quite anxious to read the sequel Scarlet which has a 2013 anticipated release date.