Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 400
Published: 5th Jan 2012
Publisher: Puffin
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Retelling, SciFi/Dystopian
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository

Description:
A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth's fate hinges on one girl ...CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation. Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future. This is not the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won't forget.

Review:
Cinder is retelling of Cinderella but with a fresh and funky twist. Set in the future in New Beijing, this Cinder is a mechanic, slaving away to support her wicked Stepmother. However, Cinder is your ordinary home girl, she is a Cyborg! And when her stepsister Peony catched the plague, Cinder lifes is turn upside down and secrets from Cinder past are revealed!

Honestly when I first heard about this I was sooooo excited. I had heard nothing but good things about it and when I got a chance to review it I am over the moon. However, I personally found the beginning to be very slow and it didn't grip my imagination straight away but my gut told me to keep reading and when that happens I do it. And boy I am so glad I did. Cinder is like nothing I have ever read before. After the first 100 pages I was completely engrossed in the storyline that I simply couldn't put the book down.

Cinder is such a strong heroine. She is smart, strong, witty and really stands out against some of the YA Protagonist's that are in books just now. I really enjoyed the relationship she had with Iko the family android. It was a really fun and caring relationship and Iko is adorable! lol. When Cinder stepsister, Poeny gets sick she is devastated because Peony is the only one in her family that cares about her and Cinder truely loves Peony. It was heartbreaking reading the aftermath of it. However, being a such a strong character Cinder deals with everything even though she is scared. (So trying not to spoil anything LOL)

Of course being a YA it wouldn't be complete without a romance right? Well there is one kind of with Prince Kai. Now I personally didn't think this was a great part to the story.I get that its Cinderella you need a Prince Charming but Prince Kai just doesn't come across as a "Prince Charming" he lacks personality. But in a way that's good because the romance doesn't take you away from the actual story.

As I said, it was a slow start for me but once I got into it, it was unbelievable. It was truely different to anything that is out there at moment. The storyline was a bit predictable and I knew exactly where it was going but there was no denying that the ride along the way to there was freaking magical, exciting and full of drama that keeped me from the book down.

Marissa Meyer has delivered a fantastic debut novel. If this is how her debut is I am really excited about reading the next book. But I don't think I can wait until 2013 for it. So if you like your fairy tale retelling with a twist I urge you to give this ago!!

Rate: 4/5
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3 comments :

  1. Great review! I love how this sounds. If a fairy tale is retold right it can be awesome. I loved Jackson Pearces Sisters Red.

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  2. Got this a couple weeks ago and can't wait to read it now :)

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  3. I love fairy tales and re-tellings...much like Nat said, Sisters Red was amazing. So I can't wait to read Cinder!!

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