Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This book was...weirder than I expected.
The story follows Cinder, a Cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing with her adopted mother and two adopted sisters. New Beijing and all of Earth have been ravaged by an incurable disease, plus they have to deal with the Lunar Queen, who is violent, war hungry, posses the ability to influence the people around her, and wants to become the new emperor on Earth.
There are a lot of what you would expect from a Cinderella retelling. Evil stepmother/ stepsister, a prince, a ball, a missing shoe (foot). But the story also takes a dark turn, dealing with death and disease, scientific experimentation on people, and a metaphor for racism (maybe). It was certainly a fun, albeit dramatic, ride and I do plan on continuing the series.
I'd give the book a 3/5 for writing and a 3/5 for entertainment. It feels like a very classic YA book that I am maybe a little too old for, but that I can still enjoy.
The story follows Cinder, a Cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing with her adopted mother and two adopted sisters. New Beijing and all of Earth have been ravaged by an incurable disease, plus they have to deal with the Lunar Queen, who is violent, war hungry, posses the ability to influence the people around her, and wants to become the new emperor on Earth.
There are a lot of what you would expect from a Cinderella retelling. Evil stepmother/ stepsister, a prince, a ball, a missing shoe (foot). But the story also takes a dark turn, dealing with death and disease, scientific experimentation on people, and a metaphor for racism (maybe). It was certainly a fun, albeit dramatic, ride and I do plan on continuing the series.
I'd give the book a 3/5 for writing and a 3/5 for entertainment. It feels like a very classic YA book that I am maybe a little too old for, but that I can still enjoy.
adventurous
tense
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:
No
This book is one of my all time favorites. Marissa Meyer is an excellent author!!
This is the series that made me love reading. So obviously they’re all 5 stars regardless of plot or writing or characters or anything
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think Cinder really feels like setup for the next books so it feels a little hard to rate it without reading everything else first, but I will still try.
I think the world building set up here is interesting, and will hopefully be more thoroughly explored in the coming books. I want to learn more about why cyborgs are discriminated against, and more about the lunars.
I think Cinder herself is a fine protagonist, and I like prince Kai despite finding them a little awkward together. This is a YA however, so some of that is to be expected.
I think I can really sum up my thoughts by saying I put down this book going "ok, what's next?"
I'm definitely invested but it didn't spur any strong emotions within me.
Tentative 6/10
I think the world building set up here is interesting, and will hopefully be more thoroughly explored in the coming books. I want to learn more about why cyborgs are discriminated against, and more about the lunars.
I think Cinder herself is a fine protagonist, and I like prince Kai despite finding them a little awkward together. This is a YA however, so some of that is to be expected.
I think I can really sum up my thoughts by saying I put down this book going "ok, what's next?"
I'm definitely invested but it didn't spur any strong emotions within me.
Tentative 6/10
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
There so many writers out there writing good books. There are so many writers out there writing great books. But there are few writers out there writing great book with amazing ideas and a beautiful writing style. Those writers are really rare. I always wonder how their brain function, from where do they get their ideas and how they put them in a beautifully written book!
This was the easiest book I've read in 2016 and I finished it in less than 12hrs. I've never done that before and now I can't help myself but reach out for book 2 and start reading it. I know I should give my mind and eyes some time to rest but I don't think I'll be able to. I'm starting Scarlet after I finish writing this review.
"You're even more painful to look at than she is" Oh really Kai? That was the harshest sentence in the whole book. I couldn't believe my eyes when I've read it. I mean how could he say THAT to her, after all she's done to save him from that lunatic Lunar Queen Levana .... *angryface*
Basically, it's the retelling story of Cinderella but in a very different way. Cinder is an adopted Cyborg who has been brought to this family to take care of her. After the father dies, her stepmother keeps her in the house but without any love or affection towards her. She has 2 step sisters Peony and Pearl. Pearl is awful but Peony is nice.
Cinder is the best mechanic in New Beijing who fixes anything. One day Prince Kai comes to her to help him with his android and she does. Not knowing that this android device has the story of her life. This android has the secret that has been hidden from her all of her life.
The characters were all great. Hated Pearl and Queen Levana from the bottom of my heart, I could feel anger and frustration growing inside me as I turn the pages of this book. I loved Peony and felt really sad for what happened to her. Loved Cinder, her character was good. But Kai's character was a bit annoying and lacked some depth, maybe in book 2 we'll get more of him and his character.
Read this series, don't miss it.
This was the easiest book I've read in 2016 and I finished it in less than 12hrs. I've never done that before and now I can't help myself but reach out for book 2 and start reading it. I know I should give my mind and eyes some time to rest but I don't think I'll be able to. I'm starting Scarlet after I finish writing this review.
"You're even more painful to look at than she is" Oh really Kai? That was the harshest sentence in the whole book. I couldn't believe my eyes when I've read it. I mean how could he say THAT to her, after all she's done to save him from that lunatic Lunar Queen Levana .... *angryface*
Basically, it's the retelling story of Cinderella but in a very different way. Cinder is an adopted Cyborg who has been brought to this family to take care of her. After the father dies, her stepmother keeps her in the house but without any love or affection towards her. She has 2 step sisters Peony and Pearl. Pearl is awful but Peony is nice.
Cinder is the best mechanic in New Beijing who fixes anything. One day Prince Kai comes to her to help him with his android and she does. Not knowing that this android device has the story of her life. This android has the secret that has been hidden from her all of her life.
The characters were all great. Hated Pearl and Queen Levana from the bottom of my heart, I could feel anger and frustration growing inside me as I turn the pages of this book. I loved Peony and felt really sad for what happened to her. Loved Cinder, her character was good. But Kai's character was a bit annoying and lacked some depth, maybe in book 2 we'll get more of him and his character.
Read this series, don't miss it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few problems - mainly, that it was predictable. But any author who can take a fairytale and turn it into this is pretty talented.
I enjoyed the characters - none of them are really formulaic, as such. I would like to have known more about what was going on in Kai's head, but then again - Cinder was the main character. Some things seemed a little too-good-to-be-true, like this friendship between Cinder and Kai. But hey, it's Cinderella we're talking here, so all the rules are put on hold.
This isn't the best book I've ever read. But it certainly was enjoyable.
I enjoyed the characters - none of them are really formulaic, as such. I would like to have known more about what was going on in Kai's head, but then again - Cinder was the main character. Some things seemed a little too-good-to-be-true, like this friendship between Cinder and Kai. But hey, it's Cinderella we're talking here, so all the rules are put on hold.
This isn't the best book I've ever read. But it certainly was enjoyable.
This book is such a brilliant retelling of a classic tale of Cinderella, i loved it and i cant wait to read the next one.