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Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Marissa Meyer

Start date: September 1, 2013

Finish date: September 30, 2013

Discussion: Group Read

Why we're reading this: Fairy Tale Retellings Theme
[close] Fairy Tale Retellings Theme

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What Members Thought

Jul 20, 2013 Joana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-dont-need-sleep-anyway-books, fairy-tale-adaptations, romance, kick-ass-heroine, sci-fi, french

Old rating: 5 stars
New rating: 4 stars

Upon rereading this book, I enjoyed it almost as much as the first time, which pleasantly surprised me. The last time I read this, it was in 2014 when I basically gave every book I read 5 stars. Now, I've matured as a reader and try to be a bit more critical with my reading, and while this book was very enjoyable and addicting, I did find some faults with it.

The world that Meyer has created is still very original and the story that she weaved was very entert Old rating: 5 stars
New rating: 4 stars

Upon rereading this book, I enjoyed it almost as much as the first time, which pleasantly surprised me. The last time I read this, it was in 2014 when I basically gave every book I read 5 stars. Now, I've matured as a reader and try to be a bit more critical with my reading, and while this book was very enjoyable and addicting, I did find some faults with it.

The world that Meyer has created is still very original and the story that she weaved was very entertaining. But I can't help but feel as though she didn't explore the setting as much as she could have. The story is supposed to take place in New Beijing, so you would excpect a more detailed account of this culture, but apart from a few details given about the city itself, it didn't seem any different from any sci-fi society, which is a bit of a shame.

Another thing I found lacking was the description of our main character. Maybe I missed it, so correct me if I'm wrong, but we don't get a specific description of Cinder. In fact, the only thing that I know about Cinder's appearance (other than being a part-cyborg) is that she is of european decent, so presumably white, but that doesn't give me much to go off. I need to be able to visualize the main character in order to really connect with them, though this is more of a personal thing that maybe wouldn't bother other people.

Lastly, I found the story a bit predictable and not because this was a reread. Maybe it's because I've read so much YA over the past few years, but the supposedly "major" plotwists at the end were very easy to foresee. The "lost princess" plotline is one I've seen a lot of, and this isn't to say that Meyer didn't do well, but that for me personally, just took a bit of the fun out of the read because of its predictability.

Other than that, I found this book to be a solid start to the series. Cinder was likeable, if not very awe-inspiring, but I did enjoy her dilemma of feeling like an oucast of society and I hope that this will be developped in the rest of the books. Kai also filled the role of "prince charming" to a tea, but I can't say for sure that he would be as memorable as he is if it weren't for the popularity of this series. The side characters were fun to read about, especially Iko, but again, I don't feel especially attached to any of them. I did, however, love the way Adri, Cinder's step-mother, was written as a villain.

The cliffender at the end makes for a compelling reason to start the next book, Scarlet, which I have read before, but I don't remember anything of. I will definitely be jumping on the bandwagon and continuing on with the series to see if the hype is really worth it. ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Stef rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, dystopia, fantasy, favorites, sci-fi

WAIT, THAT WAS THE ENDING? Marissa Meyer better have a follow up to that because I want more!!!! SERIOUSLY AUTHORS WHEN YOU PUT A CLIFFHANGER AT THE END MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP BOOK BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT please don't tell me this has happened 2 times to me in a week it frustrates me ...more

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Apr 27, 2014 Mary Harner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 50-book-challenge-2014

best book I've read in a long time. ...more

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May 25, 2014 Rae rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi, folklore-fairytale

Just finished rereading this and looked on here for the last date I read it. I can't believe I read this for the first time over 5 years ago!!! Well... five years on and it's still one of the best books I've ever read. And I remember the sequels being even better - if that's somehow possible! ...more

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