Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
ISBN: 9780312641894
400 Pages
Science Fiction: Young Adult
Cinder is a re-imagining and retelling of the classic Cinderella story. As such I was curious to see how predictable the story would be. Would it be creative enough to hold my attention? Considering that the main character, Cinder, is a cyborg – a person considered abhorrent by most and who barely has any rights in her society – I’d say the creativity and originality within the framework of the established storyline is fantastic.
Cinder is the top robot mechanic and one day the prince arrives at her booth in the market wearing a disguise and needing her services to repair his personal robot. Within minutes of his departure an outbreak of a plague is discovered the plot speeds right along from there.
Between the threatened spread of plague, the truly evil plans her stepmother concocts, and the possibility of the lunar colony attacking earth, there is a lot to keep the plot moving forward. And of course there’s a ball – it wouldn’t be a Cinderella story without her having to struggle to find a way to get to the ball. I was worried that this element of the story might seem cheesy or not fit well into the futuristic storyline, and although it was probably the weakest plot element, it didn’t keep me from enjoying the overall trials and adventures of Cinder.
There was one main plot element that was supposed to be a big reveal at the end, but I had guessed it early on in the book because of a little bit of hinting and foreshadowing. But the story had more to it than just the revelation of that secret, and ended on quite a cliffhanger (it’s the first in a series of four books).
Cinder is a fast-paced and fun sci-fi read that happens to touch lightly on serious ethical topics such as:
- What constitutes humanity?
- How much can a person be altered as a cyborg and still be considered human?
- Children’s rights vs. those of a guardian.
I enjoyed this story far more than I was expecting. It definitely has that young adult feel to it though – being a light fun read (and that is not a bad thing, but readers should be aware that this doesn’t fall into the realm of hard-core science fiction).
Rating: 4.5/5
I received a free electronic copy of this book for review.
© 2012, At Home With Books. All rights reserved.
I am not a sci-fi fan so not sure this is a book for me. Although, I thought that about Hunger Games too and I loved that book. All the reviews for this book have been great! I will have to put it on my maybe list!
I’m glad it’s not hard-core sci fi. I’ve been curious about this book, and even though I’m not thrilled with the new trend of series and trilogies, I might give it a try.
As you know I loved this too! I can’t wait for the next ones in the series!
Wow! This is a different read for you! I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Oh, I hadn’t realized it was part of a series… I love series, but I get SO impatient waiting for the next books!
I’ve just begun reading this one and I’m enjoying it, so far. Glad you liked it! That’s always a good sign, since we have very similar taste.
This just looks like a fun read. Sometimes, that’s all you want.
Aaaaagh. You and Jill. Wearing me down.
This looks like my kind of book. Thanks for the review.
Hm, I wonder if I’d enjoy it since it’s not hard core sci-fi. I’m on the fence about this book.
Glad you enjoyed this one! I too thought it felt YA, but that wasn’t a bad thing. A very unique retelling of Cinderella. Nice review!
this sounds really good. Thanks Alyce.
It sounds so kooky and crazy but every review I’ve seen has been positive. I’ll have to give it a go some day.
I have this one requested from my library for this summer…really excited to read it!
I wish there had been a bit more of the Cinderella element as that was what first intrigued me; really excited to see what comes next for this world!
I like your review. As soon as the fairytale Cinderella is referenced, there has to be expectations, like the ball. And it’s good to point out that even though there are cyborgs, it’s not hard sci-fi, either. It’s really unexpected, I thought, and a lot of fun, as you said, and adult-friendly. I totally agree.
My review is here:
http://burgandyice.blogspot.com/2011/11/cinder-by-marissa-meyer.html
I am thankful it was not hard core sci fi… not a fan. I loved the light flow of this and thought it was well done. Glad to see you enjoyed it too Alyce!
I just finished this book. I read it in four days. I was hooked after the first chapter!! This book was just amazing. I can’t wait for the next ones!!! (:
After reading your review I will definitely give this book a try.
Thank-you for your review