Scan barcode
jfield351's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book was really good! i love marissa meyer as always. however i could tell it was one of her earlier works. i was able to guess the spoiler that cinder is princess selene literally the first page it was mentioned. but it was so well written, i love kai and cinder, and it ended on a cliffhanger so i guess i’ll have to read the next one!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment, Murder, Body shaming, Gun violence, Car accident, and War
risten's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Confinement, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War
inkysplodge's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, and Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, and Vomit
filipa_maia's review against another edition
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
camilayhsjsk's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
Minor: Blood
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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
kthedestroyer's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Even upon reread, my 4 stars still stand (I like it more but sorry I don't believe in decimals and it's not good enough for 5 stars)
It's not that I don't like it because I really do (I mean, 4 stars is still a lot) but there is just something about it that I don't get as emersed as I should have.
It honestly might be the pacing. I feel like it's too fast and too slow at the same time. Everything happens so fast so you can't get to know the characters well enough but then again it seems like some scenes take forever.
Maybe it's something about the fact that Cinder's 16. Look, I have nothing against 16-year-olds but there's just no way that I wouldn't break under pressure 2 years ago if I was in her place. When I look at those kids now, I feel like it would be even worse.
I also think that Peony's death came too soon. I mean, she was in the book for like 50 pages and Meyer was just like: "Okay, time to die biatch." I feel like this is why I didn't really care about her death. Sure, Cinder's reaction was devastating but then again, we kinda forget about it right after that scene is finished.
I also miss my girl Iko for the majority of the book. Adri, I hate you for what you did. It's your fault that our fairy godmother is absent. You shall suffer (this is what we call foreshadowing).
It's getting a bit too negative in here, don't you think?
I thought so.
Okay, I know. The romance between Kai and Cinder is very convenient but I crave it. This whole book could have been just a back and forth conversation between them and I would love it. It's a sugar bomb and anyone who knows me would probably question if it was really me who wrote this review when I told them that this is the main reason why I like the book.
Sorry, I lied. It's not the romance... it's the SASS and Iko's hilarious comments.
Firstly, we have Cinder's sass which is not visible that often but when we get her snarky comments, my day instantly gets better.
Secondly, Iko is hilarious. I love her and her obsession with shoes and dresses and Prince Kai. I would love to see more of her in this book (I, again, blame Adri).
And of course, the star of the book... Prince Kai. That man is playing with his life. Levana is a ruthless queen who shows no mercy and this idiot of a man still shoots some very ironic or sarcastic comments even though she would probably want to cut his head off.
Pure gold.
Also... the ending is heartbreaking. I kinda want to kill Kai for the words he said to Cinder. The sass saved him this time but still. This is why I still prefer Thorne over Kai.
Marissa Meyer is most definitely one of my top 3 favorite authors but it shows that this is her first (I think) published book. Fortunately, it only gets better from here.
It's not that I don't like it because I really do (I mean, 4 stars is still a lot) but there is just something about it that I don't get as emersed as I should have.
It honestly might be the pacing. I feel like it's too fast and too slow at the same time. Everything happens so fast so you can't get to know the characters well enough but then again it seems like some scenes take forever.
Maybe it's something about the fact that Cinder's 16. Look, I have nothing against 16-year-olds but there's just no way that I wouldn't break under pressure 2 years ago if I was in her place. When I look at those kids now, I feel like it would be even worse.
I also think that Peony's death came too soon. I mean, she was in the book for like 50 pages and Meyer was just like: "Okay, time to die biatch." I feel like this is why I didn't really care about her death. Sure, Cinder's reaction was devastating but then again, we kinda forget about it right after that scene is finished.
I also miss my girl Iko for the majority of the book. Adri, I hate you for what you did. It's your fault that our fairy godmother is absent. You shall suffer (this is what we call foreshadowing).
It's getting a bit too negative in here, don't you think?
I thought so.
Okay, I know. The romance between Kai and Cinder is very convenient but I crave it. This whole book could have been just a back and forth conversation between them and I would love it. It's a sugar bomb and anyone who knows me would probably question if it was really me who wrote this review when I told them that this is the main reason why I like the book.
Sorry, I lied. It's not the romance... it's the SASS and Iko's hilarious comments.
Firstly, we have Cinder's sass which is not visible that often but when we get her snarky comments, my day instantly gets better.
Secondly, Iko is hilarious. I love her and her obsession with shoes and dresses and Prince Kai. I would love to see more of her in this book (I, again, blame Adri).
And of course, the star of the book... Prince Kai. That man is playing with his life. Levana is a ruthless queen who shows no mercy and this idiot of a man still shoots some very ironic or sarcastic comments even though she would probably want to cut his head off.
Pure gold.
Also... the ending is heartbreaking. I kinda want to kill Kai for the words he said to Cinder. The sass saved him this time but still. This is why I still prefer Thorne over Kai.
Marissa Meyer is most definitely one of my top 3 favorite authors but it shows that this is her first (I think) published book. Fortunately, it only gets better from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
tkatt20's review against another edition
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
More...