Name: Cinder
Rating: 4.190288127173373 (2013 reviews)
ISBN: 9781432875855

Marissa Meyer

As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.

Cinder

I’m gonna die this is so cute and the joke was funny 

Nova🛎

Kai shrugged and turned to Cinder. His eyes softened a little with a polite bow of his head. "I hope our paths will cross again,"  “really? In that case’ I guess I’ll keep following you.” She regretted the joke for half a breath before Kai laughed. A real laugh, and her chest warmed.

Steph

I'm kicking myself for not reading this series when it first came out because I had so much fun reading about Cinder's adventures! In terms of retellings, this has to be one of the most creative ones out there. Based on the story of Cinderella, this book features a cyborg living with her stepmother. Determined to find a cure for the illness plaguing the city and her stepsister, she gets entangled with the prince and an intergalactic war! What I love about the book is how it starts off as a simple story, but as you follow along, you realize it's bigger than you initially thought. It serves as the perfect introductory book and sets us up perfectly for what's to come, which I presume is going to be epic.

Cinder
            
                Lunar Chronicles

emka

   When Cinder, a gifted cyborg with a mysterious past, becomes entangled with the handsome Prince Kai, she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle to save humankind from a deadly plague and ruthless lunar beings.

The Lunar Chronicles #1

Jess

Read this review on my blog! --&gt; <a href="http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2012/01/review-cinder-by-marissa-meyer.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Cinder by Marissa Meyer</a> I really loved the characters Marissa Meyer has created in this story. From our leading lady, Cinder, and our handsome prince, Kai, to the alien enemies that threaten Earth, to Iko, Cinder’s android sidekick, who had me smiling anytime she was on the page. They were all unique and imaginative. I really loved Cinder. She is smart and her sense of humor made her very endearing. She knows what needs to be done and while she might not like it, she will not go down without a fight. I loved her spirit, and I really appreciated that she wasn’t meek or a pushover. She didn’t take her stepmother’s injustices toward her quite as quietly as they would’ve liked. But even though she has the spirit of a fighter, she’s still insecure about herself and her appearance, which is something I’m pretty sure will be different in the next book. Cinder’s past is a mystery to many, including Cinder herself since she doesn’t remember any of it. It didn’t take me very long to connect the dots of Cinder’s mysterious past, but it didn’t take away from the story. I wanted to know when and how everyone else would discover it, and also how our admirable prince would take the news. It was like knowing a juicy piece of gossip that you couldn’t wait to shout to the world. And, oh, yes...Prince Kai. With his easy smile and his impartial character, I was pretty much in love with him instantly. And his winning qualities didn’t stop there! He was also so kind and caring and charming...and did I mention handsome? Yeah, he’s also very handsome. :) I think he will become a favorite book boyfriend to many. While I was reading this book, I kept imagining the world as it is in the movie Bicentennial Man, with Robin Williams, where he plays an android. Everything you imagine in a futuristic world is realized in Marissa Meyer’s Cinder. From hovering cars to aliens, it was everything you’d want from the future...except for the aliens, of course...not sure many of us actually want those around. Cinder is a book that so many of us have been looking forward to. I mean, you can’t tell us it’s a futuristic re-envisioning of Cinderella, one of the most beloved fairytales, and not expect us to beg, borrow, or steal to get our hands on a copy! And let me tell you: it’s worth it, friends! Go out and get this book!

Not gonna read the next one, but pretty good :o

Ari 💙💛

I did enjoy this book, but it was incredibly predictable. I figured out what was going on pretty early in the book, but in Meyer's defense, it is a YA novel so perhaps that's to be expected. 

Overall it was a fun read and if you enjoy YA, Sci-fi, and spins on popular fairy tales, I would recommend this book, and possibly the whole series! 

Suzy

I did enjoy this book, but it was incredibly predictable. I figured out what was going on pretty early in the book, but in Meyer's defense, it is a YA novel so perhaps that's to be expected. 

Overall it was a fun read and if you enjoy YA, Sci-fi, and spins on popular fairy tales, I would recommend this book, and possibly the whole series! 

I am reading the second book now. 

The #1 New York Times Bestselling Series! Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Marissa Meyer on Cinder, writing, and leading men Which of your characters is most like you? I wish I could say that I'm clever and mechanically-minded like Cinder, but no—I can't fix anything. I'm much more like Cress, who makes a brief cameo in Cinder and then takes a more starring role in the third book. She's a romantic and a daydreamer and maybe a little on the naïve side—things that could be said about me too—although she does find courage when it's needed most. I think we'd all like to believe we'd have that same inner strength if we ever needed it. Where do you write? I have a home office that I've decorated with vintage fairy tale treasures that I've collected (my favorite is a Cinderella cookie jar from the forties) and NaNoWriMo posters, but sometimes writing there starts to feel too much like work. On those days I'll write in bed or take my laptop out for coffee or lunch. If you were stranded on a desert island, which character from Cinder would you want with you? Cinder, definitely! She has an internet connection in her brain, complete with the ability to send and receive comms (which are similar to e-mails). We'd just have enough time to enjoy some fresh coconut before we were rescued. The next book in the Lunar Chronicles is called Scarlet, and is about Little Red Riding Hood. What is appealing to you most about this character as you work on the book? Scarlet is awesome—she's very independent, a bit temperamental, and has an outspokenness that tends to get her in trouble sometimes. She was raised by her grandmother, an ex-military pilot who now owns a small farm in southern France, who not only taught Scarlet how to fly a spaceship and shoot a gun, but also to have a healthy respect and appreciation for nature. I guess that's a lot of things that appeal to me about her, but she's been a really fun character to write! (The two leading men in Scarlet, Wolf and Captain Thorne, aren't half bad either.)

Book One of the Lunar Chronicles

First off: I LOVE Rebecca Soler. Secondly: it's a crime that this book isn't talked abt enough. I predicted a lot of things in the beginning, but my sis tried to gaslight me... she failed. BUT, I adore this book. The world building and story telling is so brilliantly unique that I can't get enough of it. 

Tsu 💙

Even though I found the author’s writing in this book hard for me to read, I still really liked this book and give it 4 stars ⭐️. I can’t wait to continue on with the series and find out what happens to Cinder and if she will ever be able to restore Iko again.

Chulandon leanday Bradley 

Ellen Ivey

This book was about a girl who was half cyborg due to a fire and couldn’t rmemebr much about it and had a evil step sister and guardian (step mother ish) and yeah they didn’t let her go to the ball she had to go to deliver info to the prince and he and cinder had already met previously as she’s a mechanic and she ends up in prison for being a lunar and the doctor goes to her to tell her she’s the princess who was missing. It was a bit slow at first but started getting better.

Hana 

Anna 

od cinder jsem dostala přesně to, co jsem očekávala. je to science fiction YA retelling na princezny. ano, zní to přehnaně, ale nějakým záhadným způsobem to funguje skvěle. líbilo se mi vykreslení postav, kde i po pár stranách víte, jaké ty postavy jsou, jak se chovají, prostě mají svůj charakter hezky vymyšlený. byla jsem unesená tím, jak se dokáže děj stále držet té princeznovské linky, že tam pořád můžeme vidět ty útržky z popelky, i když je děj vlastně o něčem úplně jiným. to bylo fakt skvělý a já za to smekám. další veliký plus je to, že autorka dokáže napsat sci-fi tak, aby to pochopili i lidi, kteří se nedokážou až tak vyznat v elektronice (viz. já). některé sci-fi jsou pro mě hodně těžké na čtení, protože se tam mluví o elektronických věcech, které ani nevím, čemu slouží. tady jsem se ale vyznávala v pohodě.
no a největší plus celé téhle knihy je ten vztah mezi kaiem a cinder. je to takové sladké zakončení celé hezky propracované young adult. slowburn 300 stránek, potencionální enemies to lovers, a ještě ke všemu se nedali dohromady v prvním díle, jak jsem očekávala. no prostě pro tu jejich tension momentálně žiju.
.
5*/5*, rozhodně jedna z těch lepších YA.

10/10 book. Keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next! Iko was an iconic character. I would recommend and I don’t even like reading!!! 

Peter Harrell

the love story was mid (I didn’t like how it was written) but the plot and politics 🔥🔥🔥

elly

Kattia

Cinder (book one of the Lunar Chronicles) takes place in a dystopian world 126 years post World War IV. Linh Cinder is a cyborg mechanic in New Beijing, capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. This is where she meets Crown Prince Kai, when he comes in her shop to have his android fixed. There is a mysterious deadly plague called Letumosis that’s sweeping the world, with no known cure. The emperor has been recently infected, leaving the Prince desperate to find an antidote while also preparing to take over as ruler. Things are also tense between Earth and the Lunar people of the moon. The devious Queen Levana threatens war unless they could agree on a peace treaty. The only thing she wants? To be the new emperor’s bride. And the queen has her ways to get what she wants…

So how do I feel about this book? Well I am a bit conflicted. I did enjoy it very much but there were some things that didn’t quite work for me.

The good:

-I loved the premise. Cyborg Cinderella in a dystopian future? It’s a very interesting twist on the fairytale classic we all know
-I liked Cinder’s spunk and wit. She could hold her own, and didn’t turn into some lovesick teenager upon meeting the prince
-Iko, Cinder’s android sidekick was probably my favorite character in the book. She’s got a very quirky personality, especially for an android! I wished there was more of her in the story
-The Sailormoon aspects: The Lunar people/colony:  

the handsome, good-hearted prince, 
evil Queen. I was a fan of Marissa Meyer’s work back in her Aliciablade days, so when I heard about this book I was very excited to read it. It was easy to imagine the characters as characters from Sailormoon– although I’m not sure if that was the intent of the author, or it’s because I’ve read so much SM fanfic in the past
-Intergalactic politics- which was only lightly touched on, but I hope we will delve deeper in future installments


The not-so good:

-The secondary characters weren’t fully fleshed out: Evil Queen is Evil, Bitchy step-mother is a big ol’ B, etc. 
-If you are looking for a YA Dystopian like Hunger Games or Divergent, this is much lighter on dystopia, with little to no action. I also thought the lack of explanation about the last World War, about the Lunar people and overall world building left more to be desired. I am hoping more will be revealed in the next book.
-It was predictable: I already guessed the twist/reveal as soon as they mentioned the missing Lunar heir. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
-The cliffhanger ending. When I first finished Cinder, it left me anxious for Scarlet. I wanted it, like, ASAP. After letting the it soak in for about a day, though, I kind of feel cheated. It felt like the book just ended, right when everything was getting exciting. But maybe I wouldn’t have felt the same if I already had Scarlet in my hands.


Overall: Though I thought this fell short as a dystopian book, it was an entertaining read and kept my interest all the way through. Cinder was endearing as a heroine, and I enjoyed how this story linked to the original fairytale. This was a good opening to this series, lots of buildup that made me crave more. I will definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out. 

3.5 out of 5 stars

It took me a while to get into this book, but by the last bit, I was very invested. I think this book was very well written and the plot was carefully thought out. I appreciated the small details that worked together to reveal plot twists. 

My only complaints are that the main characters lack personality. I wish there was more depth to them. Additionally, I think Cinder’s minimal mourning of her sister was unrealistic. Grief lasts a long time and I wish that would have been represented better. 

Jeweliet Coffee

It took me a while to get into this book, but by the last bit, I was very invested. I think this book was very well written and the plot was carefully thought out. I appreciated the small details that worked together to reveal plot twists. 

My only complaints are that the main characters lack personality. I wish there was more depth to them. Additionally, I think Cinder’s minimal mourning of her sister was unrealistic. Grief lasts a long time and I wish that would have been represented better. 

Ellie M.

An amazing sci-fi retelling of Cinderella as a cyborg!! This book was written 12 years ago and I’m now wondering why it took me so much before I got into it. Set in the dystopian city of New Beijing, a country in the Eastern Commonwealth, established 126 years after the fourth world war. Cinder is an orphan an a mechanic of the Linh family’s stall at the shops who suddenly gets the attention of Prince Kai, heir to the throne. But when a deadly disease suddenly starts rampaging throughout the country, Cinder is suddenly caught up in a mess that will later reveal a lot about her past, and a power she doesn’t know yet. From there, the story is a reimagining of Cinderella, but swap the pumpkin and glass slipper for robots! The worldbuilding was very easy to follow and the storytelling was absolutely fun. A reader would immediately know that the series has lots of potential. The pacing was a bit off at times which made the book feel dragging, nevertheless I can’t wait to read the sequel!

Hanna Rybchynska

Comecei a ler este livro e não parei! Estava na minha lista "para ler" há demasiado tempo, mas finalmente foi para a lista "lido"! É uma história muito mais interessante do que aquilo que estava a espera! 

Não sou grande fã de Cinderela, mas a maneira como isto está escrito e reinventado, torna a história tão mais interessante e diferente! Não sei se já ouviram falar, mas é uma espécie de um livro futurista mas da Cinderela, mas não como a conhecemos, mas sim como uma cyborg que vive com a sua madrasta e as irmãs. A Cinder é o mecânico mais conhecido da cidade e é surpeendida quando o príncipe aparece na banca dela para pedir que ela arranje o androide dele. Bem diferente da história inicial, não é? Torna-se ainda melhor!

Monicap

First Read: OCTOBER 2012
Okay, something needs to be said.
It's usually the books that I'm the most reluctant to read at first that turn out to be the best.
Go Cinder!
Now, I will try my hardest to wait until 2016 before I even think of this series again.
Unfortunately, we all know it won't happen that way.

**update** nov 2nd
I have time, so I'm going to elaborate on this book a tad.
First, tho, I'll start with the story of how me and this book came together.
I first saw this book at Sams Club (one of my favorite stores. Usually has all the good books, for really low prices. The downside is that there's not much selection). It was month's ago. I'm not even sure how long ago. Probably about two or so weeks after it came out.
So, I saw this book, looked at the cover. looked at the title. I thought, "That's a Cinderella retelling". I think I picked it up and read the description, but I might not have. Either way, I put it down and did not put it on my list.
Fast forward a couple to several months. I joined a group here on goodreads. That group decided to read Cinder. So i put it on hold at the library and waited for, like, two months to get it.
I got it. Along with, like, five other books. I read the five other books first,. Finally, Reluctantly, with no books left, I picked this up. And started reading it. And stayed up reading it until my mom came into my room and said "Monica, you have to get up at six tomorrow. sleep." (side point: That tomorrow was a saturday. Yes, i did have to get up at six. on a saturday. oh, the unfairness)
the next day, I woke up at six and went to Master Drive (Driver's ed). it lasts for eight hours, from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon, with little ten-minute breaks and one 4 minute break for lunch.
Like a nerd, I read through all the breaks.
And went home. And read. and finished it. Then got on goodreads to talk about how much I loved it.
I'm not sure which group I had to read this for (I'm a part of too many) but thank you.
Were it not for you, I would never have read this book.

maya

predictable but still very fun :3 excited to continue the series

Maria

I love retellings that dare to step away from the traditional fairytale setting, and actually offer a new and fresh viewpoint to the original story. I love that this is loosely based on Cinderella, but still managed to maintain its own originality. I enjoyed everything about this book from the world-building to the characters and the plot. I really hope we get to find out more about the world and the history that comes with it, but I assume that is going to happen in the next books. In any case I am really looking forward to see how the story will unfold.

Rodrigo Figueiredo Severino

Very very entertaining. Sort of predictable, just like most fairytales (with this being a Cinderella retelling) but the setting was great and when you think it’s gonna be super predictable, they throw you a curve ball here and there and it’s all the more effective.

Vicky  Nuñez 

One of the most original retelling I've ever read, its so easy to pretend its a different story than Cinderella. 
A definite must read to fairy tales lovers.

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.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1)

The Lunar Chronicles as a whole is simply an amazing series that could be enjoyed and loved by all ages. 

If you love retellings, Marissa Meyer is your girl. This retelling however didn’t just give the Prince a name. Oh no, no, no, THIS retelling is really a complete reimagining of the Cinderella story WITH so many original elements and plot lines tied in. 

“What if Cinderella is a cyborg?” is the easy way to describe this book. “What if Cinderella took place in futuristic sci-fi Asia where she works as a mechanic and receives a very SPECIAL fixing job from a Royal customer? And she’s a cyborg and hiding it.”

Ami Is Dreaming Again

The Lunar Chronicles as a whole is simply an amazing series that could be enjoyed and loved by all ages. 

If you love retellings, Marissa Meyer is your girl. This retelling however didn’t just give the Prince a name. Oh no, no, no, THIS retelling is really a complete reimagining of the Cinderella story WITH so many original elements and plot lines tied in. 

“What if Cinderella is a cyborg?” is the easy way to describe this book. “What if Cinderella took place in futuristic sci-fi Asia where she works as a mechanic and receives a very SPECIAL fixing job from a Royal customer? And she’s a cyborg and hiding it.”

Read it, it’s literally amazing!

Julie Rubens

A fun and easy read, but also kind of predictable. I do want to read the next books though to find out what will happen next.

Cinder

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