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boudpomme's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing story! This retelling of Cinderella is a bit predictable at times but the world building is bold and totally unique. For once the setting isn't in the U.S but in a futuristic New Beijing. Yay! What a refreshing change!This book definitely bewitched me.
s_k8's review against another edition
5.0
I was apprehensive going into this book, BUT I WAS SO WRONG. IT IS SO INCREDIBLE. The originality, the creativity that still relates to the original Cinderella story, the characters--I loved it. Holy moly. My throat grew hoarse because at one point I was screaming with joy. GO READ THIS BOOK!
persian_green's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
anna4ce's review against another edition
4.0
At first, I thought this book was a little weird and I kept reading it because I was too lazy to go to the library and get something else. About half way through, it seemed pretty good albeit predictable because it IS based on Cinderella (duh) but I didn't mind knowing what was going to happen. As I got closer to the end, I got sucked in as to what was going to happen with Cinder/Kai/Levana and at the end I wanted to immediately start book 2. Overall I thought it was an interesting concept and I didn't mind knowing what was going to come next because a cyborg Cinderella mechanic chick living in Beijing is different enough to be an enjoyable storyline.
jaeeelow's review against another edition
4.0
Ich hätte mir bisschen mehr vom Ende gewünscht sonst mega geil
siirup's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not so much of a reviewer, and certainly don't plan on making a habit of it, but this book's been mulling around my heavily caffeinated little mush brain all week, and I'd very much like to get the thoughts out of my head and into the ether, if only for the hell of it.
I find it's the kind of book that gives a loose setting to set up other things in. Usually, that'd mean sacrificing world-building because it isn't the point/focus of the story, and prioritizing the romance, or the drama, or the characters, because that is the point/focus. But it feels very much, to me, to be quite empty on all sides. There isn't much world to build on, there isn't much in the characters to grow to or from, and there isn't much in the romance point blank. I find the writing to be bland and lacking, the characters just the same, and the romance boring. I don't care for romance to begin with, but at least if it had been expanded upon I could understand what the goal of the story was. It just feels very empty to me.
The villainization of an entire planet I find to be uncomfortable, and hypocritical in combination with the themes surrounding the mistreatment of Cyborgs, and the seemingly nation-wide fangirling over the prince to be juvenile and silly.
It's an easy read, and not awful, it's just sort of. There. I burned through half the book in less than a week(which between work is not easy for me), but couldn't answer the question of whether or not I was enjoying it. I was happy to be reading again, and reading more often, but the book itself lent only the easy-read writing style to my enjoyment. I don't have strong feelings on it one way or another, trying to describe the experience of reading it leaves me only with the word empty. It sort of just feels empty to me.
A lot of people fall in love with it, and I'm glad for it. Maybe there's something I'm missing, maybe it gets better further into the series, but more likely it just isn't for me. I quite enjoy fairytale retellings, and was very interested in the premise, I feel it just sort of fell flat.
I find it's the kind of book that gives a loose setting to set up other things in. Usually, that'd mean sacrificing world-building because it isn't the point/focus of the story, and prioritizing the romance, or the drama, or the characters, because that is the point/focus. But it feels very much, to me, to be quite empty on all sides. There isn't much world to build on, there isn't much in the characters to grow to or from, and there isn't much in the romance point blank. I find the writing to be bland and lacking, the characters just the same, and the romance boring. I don't care for romance to begin with, but at least if it had been expanded upon I could understand what the goal of the story was. It just feels very empty to me.
The villainization of an entire planet I find to be uncomfortable, and hypocritical in combination with the themes surrounding the mistreatment of Cyborgs, and the seemingly nation-wide fangirling over the prince to be juvenile and silly.
It's an easy read, and not awful, it's just sort of. There. I burned through half the book in less than a week(which between work is not easy for me), but couldn't answer the question of whether or not I was enjoying it. I was happy to be reading again, and reading more often, but the book itself lent only the easy-read writing style to my enjoyment. I don't have strong feelings on it one way or another, trying to describe the experience of reading it leaves me only with the word empty. It sort of just feels empty to me.
A lot of people fall in love with it, and I'm glad for it. Maybe there's something I'm missing, maybe it gets better further into the series, but more likely it just isn't for me. I quite enjoy fairytale retellings, and was very interested in the premise, I feel it just sort of fell flat.
luckyalias's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
megnut's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Violence, and Medical content
bexrecca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
4.0
I've been sitting on this book for years and wish I had read it a decade ago so I could talk to more people about it. What a cool retelling of Cinderella. The world building is great and I can't wait to read the next one.
skz0424's review against another edition
3.0
Another one that I probably would have loved as a teen. Interesting enough that I will probably read the series.