A review by danycatreader
Cinder by Marissa Meyer

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It's the third time I've read Cinder and I find something new to enjoy each time. By its very own creation, it should be pretty formulaic: a Cinderella retelling, set in a sci-fi world. Of course, she's going to be the missing Lunar princess; of course, the prince will fall in love with her; of course, she will go to the ball. And yet, there is so much charm in her little story (before it becomes big in the following series). Her relationship with Iko and Peony is so smart and charming, oozing with love and care that permeates the whole novel. And especially how her relationship with her mechanic parts is painful and raw, and yet defines her in a way she couldn't survive otherwise. It's like her name Cinder, oh so cleverly used: her name comes, instead of sleeping by the hearth as a mock name, from the traumatic experience of almost dying in a fire, from which she still has nightmares. It is the name she identifies with, the one that defines her in more ways than one. She still has the double identity of the story: both Cinder and Selene, the mechanic and the princess. (And ironically is like she had not one but two stepmothers). It is such a strong start for a series that still can stand on its own, but still perfectly builds up the rest of the themes and characters for the rest of the series. One day I want to reread it again but with a focus on bodily autonomy: how Cinder's technology affects her, and what it means in front of the Lunar gifts where one loses control completely, an ability she eventually regains and uses for her own protection.
Yet, this book isn't perfect. The way the nations are built clearly speaks of colonialism, and especially the American brand; it was written before widespread awareness of cultural appropriation and it shows because a kimono is not the only luxury clothing one can wear in all of Asia. The way science is constructed is also very flimsy: how come it is justified that cyborgs are lesser humans? The narrative never explains why a tragedy might make them lesser humans, but it was crucial to make Cinder irrationally hated by her stepmother. How come Lunars can transmit the letumosis disease but not have it? How can bioelectricity truly work? And why would the prince bump into Cinder so frequently? 
But somehow, these are issues that are not truly important, for the plot is clever, the characters are full of life, and the world is as believable as it can be, for the story's sake.