From the Bookshelf of Parallel Magic…

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Marissa Meyer

Start date: May 20, 2018

Finish date: June 3, 2018

Discussion: Sci-Fi

Why we're reading this: With a franchise developing, what's the hype? Let's find out...…more
[close] With a franchise developing, what's the hype? Let's find out...

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What Members Thought

Feb 04, 2019 LeatheHatless rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-novels-s2

Amazing! This is one of the best retellings of Cinderella I've seen. I loved the characters and the world, it's fantastic. I can't wait to see where the plot leads next. ...more

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Jun 30, 2015 Shannon Thompson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Holy stars! My life will never be the same. I am in love, and that is that. Cinder is amazing—easily one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy/fairytale retellings ever. I generally always love fantasy and sci-fi and dystopian novels, but I’m not normally a fan of fairytale retellings, which is probably why it has taken me so long to actually pick Cinder up. This novel definitely proved my previous prejudice wrong. It was a brilliant fairytale adaptation, and I’ll get to why I think that in a minute, bu Holy stars! My life will never be the same. I am in love, and that is that. Cinder is amazing—easily one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy/fairytale retellings ever. I generally always love fantasy and sci-fi and dystopian novels, but I’m not normally a fan of fairytale retellings, which is probably why it has taken me so long to actually pick Cinder up. This novel definitely proved my previous prejudice wrong. It was a brilliant fairytale adaptation, and I’ll get to why I think that in a minute, but first, I need to explain why I’m in love.
For me, Cinder was beyond refreshing. In fact, I declare my love for her as my new book girlfriend. The protagonist—a sarcastic mechanic cyborg—had both a fun and realistic attitude without going over the top on either side. She was just so…genuine, and in turn, the fantasy story came together in a beautiful, realistic way. I can definitely see why the novel is described as a cross between Star Wars, Terminator, and Cinderella. Iko, the essential sidekick, was a girly C-3P0. Peony…well, Peony. My heart aches thinking of Peony. And Prince Kai. I loved his character for many reasons, but the element I loved the most about him actually has to do with his relationship with Cinder. Despite being a fairytale retelling, all of the characters had very personal and individual motivators pushing them forward (rather than their love being the motivator). Ex. Cinder and her stepsister and freedom. Kai and his father and political power. Their love story didn’t revolve around one another as the centerpiece of the novel. Instead, it was just an element of a much larger tale. Every scene that happened between them was, again, unbelievably refreshing. And they weren’t perfect! They still had their insecurities and judgments, something I enjoyed as an honest and believable element that, to me, has been dwindling in recent stories. It was one of my favorite aspects to the entire novel. It’s probably why I could love all of the characters and the world so much. It didn’t hold back from the ugly parts, and it didn’t try to make the characters outshine themselves as people, even with the magical (or mechanical) portions.
Even though I could see most of the novel coming, (in my opinion, nothing is a big shocker), this story keeps you enchanted with the setting of New Beijing, the mystery of the past, and the quirks of all the characters (like Dr. Erland and his hallucinations).
I could go on and on, but I would risk spoiling everything.
Favorite quote: "But mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth."
~SAT
...more

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Jan 08, 2014 Lauren Langford rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

*AUDIOBOOK*

Listened with my daughter, even more enchanting now than it was when I read it all those years ago.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2018 Kate M. Colby rated it really liked it

I loved the concept and futuristic aspects of this retelling, especially the subtle details that recall the Cinderella fairytale. The mixture of magic and science made for a fun and vibrant world, though there were several areas that I would have liked to see fleshed out. Though a little angsty and very predictable, this was still an engaging book that kept me reading to see how, not what, things would happen.

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Jun 24, 2018 Jonas Lee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, audiobooks, young-adult, sci-fi, 2018-reads

It's a promising start to a revamp of the traditional fairytale. Making it set far in the future and involving some sci-fi aspects, Cinder was a read I've been prolonging for year without any real reason. Thinking of messages of equality, separatism and politics, this novel cracks open some subtleties that I think will leave readers wanting more. ...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Samantha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What a fun read! A re-boot (ha ha) of Cinderella with a little Princess Anastasia and a little cyborg. Very engaging. My daughter so right about the perfect, but frustrating ending.

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