Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fairy Tales
Length: 10 hours and 6 minutes
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Source: eLibrary
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Description:
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 Rating:
My Review: Cinder is a cyborg, an outcast in a world where she is already alone. Adopted at a young age, she is hated by her step-mother who blames her for the death and illness that has struck first her adopted father and then her step-sister. To earn her keep Cinder works as a mechanic. When she realizes the full extent of her step-mother's hatred, she wants nothing more than to run away. Unfortunately it isn't an option and she is taken away to be experimented upon. But this has major consequences. She develops a friendship with Prince Kai, learns more about herself, and realizes the threats to earth. She soon faces choices that test her loyalty, friendship, and love.
On the story...
Cinder is a lovely retelling of Cinderella with a new futuristic story line. the world-building in this one is fab-tastic! It was truly my favorite part. I could picture everything viivdly. I also love that it took place in New Beijing instead of America. Cinder is a feisty cypoarg (part girl and part machine) who has gone her whole life despising herself and feeling unloved. She doesn't mope. She plans and does the best that she can. She isn't over the top or predictable. Prince Kai is sweet but I'm sure there will be a lot more to learn about him so I look forward to that. Cinder is action-packed and I was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. People who aren't a fan of dystopias that focus on violence and death will like this one more. There is death (mostly because of a plague) but this one feels less violent so far. The adventure is the search and find variety rather than the violent fighting variety.
With all retellings I mourn a bit because I feel like I know where thing are headed. Cinder isn't really any different. My only negative for this one is that I knew the big reveal well before it was revealed. I found myself impatiently waiting for it, only caring about the consequences. I didn't get to entirely enjoy the build-up as much because I really wanted to know about that one issue. I was revealed at the very end and then the book ended and I was a tad disappointed.
On the narrator...
Ms. Soler was awesome. Everything was perfect. Voices were distinct and the tone was right on. I loved when Ms. Soler did the android voices because they were slightly robotic without being over-the-top. It made me smile every time.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and look forward to continuing this series. I also recommend this to those who don't read dystopia because they find them too depressing. This has a different feel to it.