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filipa_maia's review
adventurous
funny
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
4.0
I started this book not expecting much from it. Being a retelling of Cinderella and all I though that it might be quite boring. But, to my surprise, and despite being very predictable, I really liked this book.
The story is set in the future, a hundred plus years since the IV World War, it involves humans, androids, cyborgs and Lunars (royalty who lives on the moon)... this is what makes the story so interesting (that, and the fact they are facing a deadly plague).
The story was going really well untill the end. It seemed rushed and not thought through. All those big reveals, everything happening at the same time... it was very confusing. I understand that in the real story, Cinderella has a deadline to meet - at midnight she becomes a "regular girl" - so I understand the rush to put all these events happening at the same time... but I don't think it works as it should have been. And that last interaction with the doctor was just ridiculous - Ok so now you run away from prison, all by yourself and meet me in Africa - excuse me? Is she supposed to get to Africa and ask around for the doctor? I don't know how Africa looks like in the future, but right now, is a gigantic place and I'm pretty sure that "ask around" wouldn't work.
Nevertheless, i intend to read the next book and see what will happen to Cinder now.
The story is set in the future, a hundred plus years since the IV World War, it involves humans, androids, cyborgs and Lunars (royalty who lives on the moon)... this is what makes the story so interesting (that, and the fact they are facing a deadly plague).
The story was going really well untill the end. It seemed rushed and not thought through. All those big reveals, everything happening at the same time... it was very confusing. I understand that in the real story, Cinderella has a deadline to meet - at midnight she becomes a "regular girl" - so I understand the rush to put all these events happening at the same time... but I don't think it works as it should have been. And that last interaction with the doctor was just ridiculous - Ok so now you run away from prison, all by yourself and meet me in Africa - excuse me? Is she supposed to get to Africa and ask around for the doctor? I don't know how Africa looks like in the future, but right now, is a gigantic place and I'm pretty sure that "ask around" wouldn't work.
Nevertheless, i intend to read the next book and see what will happen to Cinder now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Death, Blood, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Grief
Minor: War, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
meganleighr's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Terminal illness
anielabooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Can absolutely see the parallels in this retelling. Obsessed with the relationship. Absolutely hated Adri and Pearl. I wish there would’ve been a fairy godmother element to it. The plot twist was very predictable but I still liked it. I wish we had gotten more Iko scenes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, War, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Self harm, and Gun violence
carynnbanner's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Car accident, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
aidamaria_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
How I wish I would have read this sooner! I should have picked it up when I was still a teenager. As a sixteen-year-old girl with a brand new pair of prosthetic titanium hip joints, I would have loved to read about and relate to a cyborg girl with a prosthetic hand and foot. 🦾
Either way this is one of the best fairytale retellings I’ve ever come across. Even though one plottwist was a little obvious to me, the story remained gripping, the world building is *chef’s kiss* and I’m so excited to start the second book in the series soon! It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a story this much so I’m giving it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 out of 5 stars) rating. Definitely one of my favourite reads of 2021. 🏆
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Abandonment, Bullying, Body shaming, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
tkatt20's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this book but I didn't love it. I found the world itself to be incredibly interesting and the characters are very loveable but the plot was predictable and I felt like I knew everything that was going to happen well in advance. I almost DNFed but continued hoping it would surprise me but it never did.
As previously stated, the characters and the world building are complex and interesting so that redeems it a bit for me. The world itself is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic society taking place on Earth after the 4th world War. The technological advancements are fascinating, my only complaint so that they aren't described well enough. The androids come off as practically human when interacting with the characters but it felt disconnected with the story since there are next to no details about why they respond the way they do or who created them. Im hoping the rest of the series sheds some light on this if I decide to continue reading.
I would have rated this much higher had Cinder's step sister not died the way she did. I had such high hopes when I found out that one of her step sisters was actually nice to her (compared to many other Cinderella retellings) but she was barely in the book long enough to get to know her, and having Cinder right there with the cure was extremely frustrating and I almost put down the book right there
I haven't decided yet if I will finish this series but there is a good chance I will solely based on my fondness if the characters.
As previously stated, the characters and the world building are complex and interesting so that redeems it a bit for me. The world itself is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic society taking place on Earth after the 4th world War. The technological advancements are fascinating, my only complaint so that they aren't described well enough. The androids come off as practically human when interacting with the characters but it felt disconnected with the story since there are next to no details about why they respond the way they do or who created them. Im hoping the rest of the series sheds some light on this if I decide to continue reading.
I haven't decided yet if I will finish this series but there is a good chance I will solely based on my fondness if the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Ableism
empathephant's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think I really do just have a problem getting my brain to adjust the the new conditions of an SFF universe, because on this second read through I enjoyed the book so much more, no longer being unfamiliar with the setting and vocabulary. I need to remember this and just push through in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Excrement, Dementia, Violence, Slavery, Vomit, and Car accident
A pandemic that causes nearly death threatens the world. The plot takes place under the looming threat of war, centering on trying to prevent the war. Main character is an orphan, living in an abusive adoptive family.lilawsahar's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I remember reading this book when it was first published and I loved it so much (I was a teenager then). Re-reading it as an adult, I’m so glad that it’s as good as I remembered.
Cinder is a young girl and cyborg living in New Beijing. She lives with her step-mother/guardian and her two step-sisters. Classic Cinderella story. However, in this world there is a virus that is killing people on earth brought by the people of the moon. The prince must secure an alliance with the moon queen in order to protect his people from the virus and imminent war, but if he goes through with it the queen will use her power to control the whole planet. That is if his feelings for Cinder don’t get it the way.
Cinder is a young girl and cyborg living in New Beijing. She lives with her step-mother/guardian and her two step-sisters. Classic Cinderella story. However, in this world there is a virus that is killing people on earth brought by the people of the moon. The prince must secure an alliance with the moon queen in order to protect his people from the virus and imminent war, but if he goes through with it the queen will use her power to control the whole planet. That is if his feelings for Cinder don’t get it the way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, War, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Grief, and Body horror
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