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Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Marissa Meyer

Start date: April 1, 2012

Finish date: May 1, 2012

Discussion: Book Of The Month

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What Members Thought

Mar 04, 2012 Whitley Birks rated it really liked it

I was so taken with this book that I finished it in half a day.

Now, I will admit that the book has some problems. The writing in the beginning is very stilted, though it smooths out after a few chapters. The world-building is very simplistic, and when it goes to international levels downright confusing. A few of the 'political banter' scenes feel like they were too casual, especially since there were cameras watching. I figured out the Last Chapter Reveal when they dropped the very first hint. B I was so taken with this book that I finished it in half a day.

Now, I will admit that the book has some problems. The writing in the beginning is very stilted, though it smooths out after a few chapters. The world-building is very simplistic, and when it goes to international levels downright confusing. A few of the 'political banter' scenes feel like they were too casual, especially since there were cameras watching. I figured out the Last Chapter Reveal when they dropped the very first hint. But as I write this, in the warm post-last-page glow, those are the only things I can remember having issue with.

Cinder (the character) is a breath of fresh air in a market filled with horrible female role models. She is an honest-to-god strong female character, and if I could meet Marissa Meyer I would would give her a giant geekgirl hug for writing her. Cinder has a strong personality, she has fully realized hopes, dreams, and emotions, and most importantly she has agency. She does not pass quietly through this novel. Cinder is this novel. She drives every part of it. She takes control of her life and her story and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do. (Unless they have tranq darts, but that's an exception.) So many novels seem to forget that their main character has to tell the story, be the story, and not simply exist while the story happens around them. This novel never does that, and if the whole rest of the book were crap, I would still love it for that one fact.

On the up side, the rest of the novel is not crap. Prince Kai is worthy male lead for our heroine, and he's got so much more going for him than just a pretty smile. (For one thing, he's actually nice.) The romance between Kai and Cinder is understated, awkward, and thoroughly adorable. Most importantly, it doesn't result in True Love after one week. I cannot express how much I am looking forward to a relationship that develops over the course of four planned books, not two chapters. The setting in this book, while not especially complex, does still have a character all its own, one which is present throughout the novel. The heavy issues (death, especially) are treated with dignity and real emotion. The plot felt more like an elaborate hook for the sequel than a self-contained story, but to its credit, I am thoroughly hooked.

All in all, this is a book for teens that feels like it doesn't have to talk down to them. It treats its characters and its readers with respect and intelligence and am ecstatic to give it a permanent place on my bookshelf. ...more

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Sep 24, 2012 T.R. Graves rated it it was amazing

I'm embarrassed to say that I purposefully avoided Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) for a long while. I'm not a fan of the whole Cinderella story being told and retold. Mistake. Big mistake. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) is so deep and so unique that there is barely any way to compare it to Cinderella... or any other book.

There is so much to love that I'm not sure where to begin. I think I will start with the fact that Marissa Meyer created a heroine who is physically impaired. Those very flaws are t ...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Aparajitabasu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, romance, young-adult, sci-fi, steampunk, fairy-tale, utopia-vs-dystopia

A fairy tale re-imaging of Cinderella....marvelous...carry on folks as I present before you all my views on Lunar Chronicles #1 Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Here is the summary of the book:

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 myster A fairy tale re-imaging of Cinderella....marvelous...carry on folks as I present before you all my views on Lunar Chronicles #1 Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Here is the summary of the book:

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.

Its back to basics these days it seems. Fairy tale re-imaging is in rage. Some failed to deliver and some did...spectacularly at that. Lunar Chronicles is definitely going on my spectacular list and I actually finished it in 25 hours.....nice. But being on that list, it will be a difficult review for me to write because it was that good......hope I can get my feelings in right....

A futuristic-dystopic re-telling of Cinderella, this is the story of Linh Cinder, the gifted and best mechanic of New Beijing. Residing in Eastern Commenwealth, Cinder like in the fairy tale works for her stepmother and two step sisters day and night and hearing their taunts. All the while keeping her cyborg deformity a secret from the world. But all this starts to fall apart when Prince Kai visits her booth to get an old android fixed, he says it is not important but of sentimental value but Cinder catches the lie and somehow along the way her sister catches the plague, she is thrust into a dangerous world of political diorama, of deceit, of treachery, and schemes...also love. Only she can rise above the ashes and defeat the enemies from the past.

First book on the Lunar Chronicles, this is Cinder's story and I oh so loved her for it. Cinder while a cyborg was a pleasure to read about. She is very strong and very resourceful (cue the fact that she is a cyborg), she is also very cares for her step sister Peony, her only friend a lot and would move both heaven and hell to help her. But she is also very insecure, of her cyborg parts to save herself of the possible heartbreak.

Then there is Prince Kai, he is a lovable person, he has all the characteristics of a sovereign and deeply cares for the welfare of his people. His innocent rapport and mindless flirting with Cinder, and the growing attraction was definitely very sweet. Then these are there the Lunars, the Lunar Queen to be exact, scheming, deceptive and vain, she made the perfect villain for this tale. Cinder and Prince Kai truly redefined Cinderella's story for me.

Marissa Meyer in her debut novel put forth a spectacular and a genius re-imaging of Cinderella. The sci-fi futuristic element really brought wonder to this. There is Cinderella, there is the Prince, the step mother and two step sisters, the pumpkin carriage and even the lost shoe on the staircase, all geniously engineered into the story making something as old as the tale complete new and her own. As we read through, we completely become one with Cinder's predicament, her insecurities about her cyborg parts, her insecurities about her feelings for the prince and the tussle within herself about whether or not to let the Prince in or not. Truly a marvelous job by the author.