Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) in Apocalypse Whenever

Aug 03, 2016 Mitchell Friedman rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, bc-powellssfgroup, own, series, science-fiction, young-adult, popsugar-2024, liked-reviews, popular, published-2012

A re-read. I had decided I would read the rest of this series, or at least try to. And use this book as the end of my popsugar 2024 challenge, satisfying A Book written during NaNoWriMo. And I was careful not to re-read my review until near the end. And for a lot of the book, I kind of liked it. I figured past me was being unfair. But really I have nothing to change from the below, though I did like it just a little bit more. 3.0 of 5

There are bits of a story here. Cinderella and Prince Charming ...more

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Jun 20, 2013 ambimb rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This is a really good addition to young adult fantasy fiction and a great update of the old Cinderella story. Maybe if I wasn't so embarrassed about reading it I'd give it more stars because it really is pretty well done. It's super-girly, like 12-year-old giggly boy-crush girly, I think. I'm not really sure about the main demographic but whenever girls are boy-crazy and at odds with their mothers — that would seem to be this book's sweet spot.

Maybe what sets this book apart and really reinvigo ...more

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May 12, 2012 Kelly Roll rated it really liked it

I bit of a slow starter but I loved the conceit of having Cinder being a cyborg and, instead of the traditional glass slipper, we have a mechanical foot. I was also intrigued by the futuristic setting as well as the fact that it was not set in a European country but rather New Beijing. Meyer does an excellent job of describing what Cinder's city is like. She also did a fine job with the character of Cinder, Prince Kai and Dr. Erland. Some secondary characters are less well developed but even the ...more

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May 20, 2016 Katie Kenig rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia

“Kai cleared his throat. Stood straighter. "I assume you are going to the ball?"
"I-I don't know. I mean, no. No, I'm sorry, I'm not going to the ball."
Kai drew back, confused. "Oh well... but... maybe you would change your mind? Because I am, you know."
"The prince."
"Not bragging," he said quickly. "Just a fact.”

This is not quite the Cinderella you're familiar with.

It seemed like a little while back everyone I knew was reading this book, and most of them loved it. So when faced with the re-tell ...more

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May 29, 2013 Jenelle Compton rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, young-adult-childrens, apocalyptic-dystopian

I enjoyed reading this book. A modern retelling of cinderella, it ended up being more interesting that I actually expected it to be. Cinder isn't your typical captive princess. She's a cyborg and an amazing mechanic.
The characters were all well written and either likable or completely detestable. And I liked the fact that she and the prince met AGES before the ball, it wasn't a love at first sight without speaking kind of romance.

I only give it 3 stars due to predictability. I'm not referring ...more

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May 04, 2014 Amanda rated it it was amazing

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
I had been avoiding reading it for quite a while. Even though it had been recommended to me a few times by people who share my taste, it seemed like not my cup of tea at all.
Sci fi stories, with robots and cyborgs, set in a different world or planet, and a well known fairy tale reimagining to boot (no pun intended). I decided to give it a try after a particularly gushing review of it by a young girl I know.
I Loved it. Yes it has all of the above I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
I had been avoiding reading it for quite a while. Even though it had been recommended to me a few times by people who share my taste, it seemed like not my cup of tea at all.
Sci fi stories, with robots and cyborgs, set in a different world or planet, and a well known fairy tale reimagining to boot (no pun intended). I decided to give it a try after a particularly gushing review of it by a young girl I know.
I Loved it. Yes it has all of the above ingredients but the re telling of the Cinderella story is so cleverly done that I had to sometimes strain to see the similarities between this and the original. This book isn't a conventional fairy tale love story. It may develop into one as the series progresses but so far only friendship and regard with some mild flirtation is there. Infact every time either Cinder or Kai is faced with a choice between what they want in their heart or the greater good, any feelings they may secretly hope for are pushed to the side in favour of duty and honor. This theme of self sacrifice is rare in this genre.
There is a stern stepmother and some sisters but cinder is no timid wanna be princess in need of saving from her circumstances. If any saving is needed it will most likely be done by her. While she is most definitely a teenager in sensibility which was so realistically portrayed that I felt exasperated with her at times, Cinder is a fantastic, strong, new (to me) YA heroine.
There is also great world building here. Marissa Meyer has created a believable alternate world which while obviously futuristic in technology, laws and customs is at the same time recognizable in the motivations and hopes of its inhabitants. They want a peaceful, healthy safe place to raise their families in and to enjoy thier lives.
We ( Lucy and I )did figure out some of the coming plot twists due to little seeds planted early on but they were pretty subtle and made the experience of this audio book more enjoyable rather than less.
There was also an interesting short cameo from Cress, a character who is featured in book 3.

Highly recommended for both girls and boys.
If you know a reader looking for a new series to get immersed in get them to try this. I quite enjoyed the Divergent series (up to mid way through book three that is.) I think this is better. ( I'm saying that while I'm beginning book three in this Lunar Chronicles series).

A word about the audio version: the narrator is brilliant. One of the best in recent memory. You won't want to stop listening to it and will get frustrated when your kids make you turn it off when they aren't with you in the car. But you won't be able to listen to anything else in the meantime because this vivid story won't step aside to make room for lesser ones.
...more

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May 17, 2015 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

Very interesting book! Cinder is a cyborg which is looked down on in Earthen society. She has an evil stepmother and stepsister and a nice stepsister. The prince approaches her in the market about fixing his android tutor and falls in love w/ her, not realizing she has some robotic parts. Clever and futuristic imagining of Cinderella. Kick-ass female character.

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Mar 30, 2014 Sarah rated it it was amazing

A futuristic sci-fi/fantasy twist of the classic Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg in New Beijing, whose legal guardian treats her like the property she is. Cinder dreams of escaping her life when two occurrences forever change the path of her life - the Prince comes to her stall to fix his android because she is the best mechanic in New Beijing and someone she knows contracts the plague. What follows is a voyage of self-discovery that leaves the readers anxiously waiting for the next entry in the ...more

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