Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Posted 19 January, 2012 by Pushy in Blog, Pushy, Pushy Book Review, Uncategorized / 16 Comments

Cinder by Marissa MeyerCinder

by Marissa Meyer
Book I in the Lunar Chronicles
Genre: YA sci-fi, fairy-tale reboot
Publication: January 3, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Audiobook purchased by reviewer
Amazon (Hardcover, Audiobook, Kindle), Barnes & Noble, Indiebound
Synopsis from 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

Oh My Goodness!!! I’m going to start off by just saying this book is FREAKING AMAZING!!!!

Okay…

*fans self* *recovers from fan girl moment*

So, in what is a truly unusual but exceedingly enjoyable marriage of fairy-tale and cybernetic sci-fi, Cinder will draw you in and leave you begging for more. There’s so much to love about this beautifully conceived and well-written book: the characters, unique and outlandish but so very relateable, the plot, Cinderella rebooted in the best way I’ve ever seen, and the writing, lyrical and compelling and entrancing at every point in the book.

In this tale, Cinder, a cyberneticaly enhanced girl and the best mechanic in New Beijing, has a chance encounter with the Crown Prince that sets her life, unbeknownst to her at the moment, down a path of self-awakening and empowerment. The best elements of the Cinderella tale are on display: the evil step-mother, the step-sisters (one mean, one nice), the adorable sidekick (mice traded in for an awesome, female version of R2D2) and the deep seated knowledge that this girl is destined for more than what life has handed her.

Now take that and mix in something new: an planetwide plague that’s on the rampage and seemingly unstoppable, an Earthen/Lunar game of high stakes political poker, a romance complicated by so much more than class and a mystery: who IS Cinder really???

Marissa Meyer’s tale will hook you, as sure as you were a child once in love with fairy tales, but what will leave you waiting desperately for more is how truly unique her take on these classic stories are, and the question of just WHAT happens next????

Bottom Line

With all of the existential angst of Bladerunner, plus the inate hope of the fairytale it holds at its premise, Cinder is a book that CAN NOT be missed. Do yourself a favor and move it to the IMMEDIATE top of your TBR pile. Scratch that, put down whatever you’re reading now and PICK CINDER UP TODAY!

Narrated by Rebecca Soler
length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
Such an amazing audiobook! I’ve never listened to Rebecca Soler before, but her performance was truly beautiful. She not only brought Cinder and Prince Kai to life but she brought Iko, an android with a basic description of Eve from Wall*E, to the point that I loved that bucket of bolts more than some of the humans in the book! I highly, highly recommend the audio verison!

Final Notes

You know my thoughts on series, dear reader, but this book was just too good to wait for. Plus, it’s not part of a duo, not a trilogy, but A FREAKING QUARTET!!!!!!!!!!! SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s right, the next book doesn’t come out until 2013, but there’s always the hope that it might show up at BEA this year…..right?????

And Ms. Meyer will be in town on Monday for a book signing (yes, I’ll be the stalker in the front), so I’ll be sure to ask what we can expect and when!

Now go and get lost…in a book!

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Lover of words and authors; absolute fan girl of books! Give me a good story, with characters I can love (and hate) and I'll follow you anywhere. Sing me a song of worlds I can dream of, and I'll listen forever.

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16 Responses to “Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer”

  1. Annette

    I tend to like re-tellings, but this one is very special. I'm not sure if it's because of the Cyborg aspect…I don't know. I also love that it really is it's own story, with little references that make you say "ah, that's from Cinderelly…" I just really enjoyed this one. And I really enjoyed your review!

    Reply »

    @onepushyfox 1/20/2012

    Thanks, Annette! I agree, part of what makes a story in this genre strong is that it can stand on it's own and these characters are DEFINITELY not shells. Glad you liked it too!!!
    My recent post My Friday Love {19}

    Reply »

  2. Wow. This book caught my attention and now I really want to read it. Thank you for your review, you seem a bit excited about it. 😉

    Reply »

    @onepushyfox 1/20/2012

    You're very welcom, Hildie! Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!!! And yes, I'm just a *tad* excited!!! 😀
    My recent post My Friday Love {19}

    Reply »

    @onepushyfox 1/20/2012

    Oh, I forgot to add, please come back when you've had a chance to read it! I'd love to hear your thoughts!!!
    My recent post My Friday Love {19}

    Reply »

  3. Lori Strongin

    SO JEALOUS you get to meat Marissa Meyer! Man, this book is so awesome, and I love that she's rebooting so many stale fairy tales in the rest of the series. Cannot wait for more!!!

    Smiles!
    Lori
    My recent post Welcome!

    Reply »

    @onepushyfox 1/21/2012

    What have you heard???? I didn't know she was going to be expanding (although she's definitely delved in to Snow White in Cinder as well). Let me know what you've heard. 🙂

    Reply »

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