Scan barcode
hannahmcclee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Classism, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War and Violence
ravensandlace's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Dystopian Young Adult
Format: hardback library book
Series: The Lunar Chronicles
Star Rating: 3 stars
tw: sickness, death from illness, mentions of suicide, infanticide, mind control, extreme pain
Yes, I am very late to the party with this book series. About 11 years late. But hey, better late than never! I’m only just now getting into popular young adult books. I like to wait for the hype to die down a bit before I read a popular book so that way, I don’t get a mob after me if I end up not liking the book. Cinder has been on my radar for some time now. I think it was the way the cover was. It drew me in. I had seen that my local library had it so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised.
I enjoyed the aspect of this being a Cinderella retelling. I don’t like Disney and I haven’t read the original story of Cinderella but I do know about Cinderella and the story well enough to know what is going on. I enjoyed the way Meyer reinvented it but also kept the story there with a spin to it. I can also appreciate an author that keeps the spirit of the story but still make it their own.
There were two POVs: Cinder and Prince Kai. I liked Cinder’s chapters more than I liked Prince Kai’s. I loved the bond she had with her adopted sister and how she was willing to do anything for her. Considering the abuse she experienced with her stepmom and other sister, she was surprisingly empathetic and truly cared a lot. Prince Kai’s chapters were okay. There were a lot of politics involved since he had an empire to run. I didn’t mind his chapters but I couldn’t wait to get back to Cinder’s chapters.
Overall, this was a good book. I called the plot twist early on but that wasn’t a bad thing. It didn’t hinder my enjoyment. I’m not super in love with the book, but I like it enough that I will continue the series as I have enjoyed the ride and the characters so far. I think I would have liked it a lot more if I had read it when I was younger. I’ve read so many dystopian novels since I’ve gotten serious about reading, that they all kind of blend together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Bullying, Child death, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Body shaming, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Blood, War, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Confinement
hellodebbies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the book that I didn't expect to love as much as I do !
It took me two months to get to the half but one day to finish the other half. Cinder, who deserves a better life honestly 💀, is a well written character with potential to be developed and I can't wait to find out more about her in the next book. And especially, how she cope with her different trauma (as she is emotionally abused by her stepmom) I would be curious to see how she deals with that since some of her parts are cyborg, and that it was said she couldn't cry. However,she can feel as she's human, thus my questioning about how she'll cope with trauma. Kai, who definitely deserves a break, is really a sweet guy, I can't wait to see his growth as an Emperor and the choices he will have to make.
I am in love with the world building and I am so eager to know more about how the Lunar work.
It was overall a really good book with great potential that I will for sure reread and recommend to my friends!
It took me two months to get to the half but one day to finish the other half. Cinder, who deserves a better life honestly 💀, is a well written character with potential to be developed and I can't wait to find out more about her in the next book. And especially, how she cope with her different trauma (as she is emotionally abused by her stepmom) I would be curious to see how she deals with that since some of her parts are cyborg, and that it was said she couldn't cry. However,she can feel as she's human, thus my questioning about how she'll cope with trauma. Kai, who definitely deserves a break, is really a sweet guy, I can't wait to see his growth as an Emperor and the choices he will have to make.
I am in love with the world building and I am so eager to know more about how the Lunar work.
It was overall a really good book with great potential that I will for sure reread and recommend to my friends!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Terminal illness
Minor: War
tonylovd's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The lunar chronicles are such a comfort series to me. I absolutely adore this series.
These books are a twist on fairytales, and of all the fairytale retellings, these ones take first place.
All the characters have so much depth and they're all so unique from one another.
These books are a twist on fairytales, and of all the fairytale retellings, these ones take first place.
All the characters have so much depth and they're all so unique from one another.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Death, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
renyoi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun and sometimes even innovative YA novel, with surprisingly likable characters and worldbuilding that feels natural, if a bit simplistic at times. The conglomeration of Asian cultures into a single monolith is problematic in some instances, but I do think the author was aware of the differences, even if that wasn’t always the impression in the text. Creative writing and striking characters with clear agency are the strengths of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Confinement, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: War
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The chaotic streets of New Beijing are crowded with both humans and androids. People are being ravaged by a horrible plague. A cunning lunar people keep watch from orbit, ready to strike. Nobody is aware that one girl's decision will determine the fate of the planet.
Cinder is a cyborg and a talented mechanic. She has a murky past, is despised by her stepmother, and is held responsible for her stepsister's illness. She is a second-class citizen. But when her life starts to entangle with that of the dashing Prince Kai, she finds herself thrust into the middle of an interplanetary conflict and a forbidden attraction. She must learn mysteries from her history in order to safeguard the future of her world because she is torn between loyalty and betrayal, duty and freedom.
I was anticipating this book because I adore Marissa Meyer's previous works; contrary, I wasn't satisfied. In all honesty, I thought the book was cliched, but it kept my attention and was quite fast paced. The last three chapters were supposedly the "plot twists," but I already had an idea what is going to happen, so they didn't really surprise me. However, I am eager to read the other books because I've heard they're far better than Cinder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, and War
booklover97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Chronic illness
Minor: War and Violence
stormzx's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
12+
the ending.
the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood, War, and Violence
mostlyvoidpartiallystars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: War, Medical trauma, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
theteamsreader's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An incredible start to an expansive science fiction series with immediately loveable characters, loveable settings, and loveable writing. The book itself flows amazingly well, with a permanently addictive pace that makes the story fly past, especially as wider galactic tensions arise, plot twists grow in number, and stakes become rapid. Recommend to anyone looking for a good science fiction, or badass sci-fi versions of your favourite fairytale princesses and stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Terminal illness, Violence, Outing, Body shaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Moderate: Domestic abuse, War, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Fire/Fire injury