CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, SCIENCE FICTION, YOUNG ADULT
ABOUT THE BOOK
title: cinder
SERIES: THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, BOOK #1
AUTHOR: MARISSA MEYER
GENRES: YOUNG ADULT, SCI-FI, FANTASY
PUBLISHER: MACMILLAN AUDIO
PUBLISHING DATE: 1/3/2012
FORMAT:AUDIOBOOK
Narration:rebecca soler
LENGTH/PAGECOUNT: 10 HOURS, 2 MIN/390 pages
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MY THOUGHTS ABOUT “cinder: the lunar chronicles”
Who can resist the allure of a good Cinderella rags-to-riches tale? Certainly not me!
The prospect of a futuristic steampunk take on this classic fairytale had me eagerly anticipating Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles. With a stunning “Cinder” book cover and rave reviews since 2012, I was excited to finally dive into this series everyone was raving about. Better late than never, right?
I plunged into Meyer’s world of New Beijing in “The Lunar Chronicles, book one: Cinder”. Did this book deliver the epic fairytale vibes I was craving? Let’s discuss!
this review post is all about "CINDER: THE LUNAR CHRONICLES"
goodreads: CINDER: BOOK summary
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.
"CINDER" BOOK REVIEW
This book review of “Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles” by Marissa Meyer will break down my thoughts on the plot, characters, and writing style. I’ll also recommend similar books you might enjoy, as well as highlight other works by the author.
UNPACKING THE PLOT OF “CINDER”
“Cinder” is packed with drama! It’s like the original Cinderella story on steroids. While the classic tale had its challenges, this Cinder faces a whole new level of hardship.
Not only is Cinder dealing with and evil stepmother and forced labor, she’s up against…
- A deadly plaque called letumosis
- An evil lunar queen with mind-controlling abilities
- Malfunctioning cyborg body parts
- Being treated like a 2nd-class citizen
- Being treated like a science experiment
- No memory of her past
I was constantly saying to myself throughout this book, “Will this poor cyborg girl ever catch a break?”
“My only mistake was in waiting too long to be rid of you", Adri said, running the washcloth between her fingers. "Believe me, Cinder. You are a sacrifice I will never regret.”
I totally ate it up. However, the romance aspect of this story was the least interesting part to me.
There’s just so many subplots to keep track of that I found myself not really caring about her love story with Prince Kai. Plus, I found Prince Kai’s character pretty lacking in substance. More on that later.
I loved how Meyer reshaped the Cinderella narrative. It felt fresh and exciting, set in futuristic China, New Beijing, a setting we don’t often see in YA fantasy. This unique spin kept me engaged and eager to see what happened next.
The cliffhanger ending left me wanting more. While I was disappointed, it also made me eager to continue the series to find out how Cinder’s story unfolds.
“He was the fantasy of every girl in the country. He was so far out of realm, her world, that she should have stopped thinking about him the second the door had closed. Should stop thinking about him immediately. Should never think about him again, except maybe as a client--and her prince. And yet, the memory of his fingers against her skin refused to fade.”
**My Only Minor Issue with the Plot**
My one quibble is with the introduction of Queen Levana. Her sudden appearance and seemingly unchallenged power raised eyebrows.
How did she manage to land on Earth and waltz around with little push back? Prince Kai’s lack of response to her disrespect was a letdown. I’m curious to see if in future books he grows a spine.
“I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.”
THE CHARACTERS OF “CINDER: THE LUNAR CHRONICLES”
**Prince Kai**
Let’s get real, Prince Kai was a letdown. He lacked agency and seemed more like a passive observer than an active participant in his own story.
I honestly didn’t know why the lunar queen even desired to marry Prince Kai, he did whatever she told him to do right from the start. So, why did she need a marriage to try to seize power? She had ALL the power.
If that wasn’t bad enough, his lack of concern about Cinder’s wellbeing was disappointing. I get that he had international and intergalactic politics to deal with. But, how much is a boy really into you if he doesn’t notice you’re a friggin’ cyborg with metal body parts clanking around?
On top of that, he really let Cinder down when she was at her lowest. I’ll wait to read the future books to see if he redeems himself, but so far he’s no Prince Charming I’ve ever heard of.
**Cinder**
Cinder is THAT girl! She’s kind, brilliant, and a total badass. Despite her difficult circumstances, she remains determined and selfless. I admired her mechanical skills and her refusal to let her circumstances define her. Meyer did an excellent job of bringing this cyborg Cinderella to life.
**Queen Levana**
Queen Levana is a chilling villain. Her desire for power and willingness to trample others to achieve it are truly terrifying.
She sweeps down to New Beijing and immediately starts acting as if she owns the place.
Her ability to mind control came and cast illusions came in handy when she needed people to do her bidding.
Say what you will about this queen, but she’s not messing around.
She’s the kind of villain who makes you want to root for the hero just to see her get her comeuppance.
**Iko**
Iko, the sassy android, stole the show. Her snarky comments and unwavering loyalty to Cinder made her a delightful sidekick. Iko added a dose of humor and personality to the story.
She definitely served to fulfill the role of those funny little mice in the Disney Cinderella film.
**Adri**
Adri, the evil stepmother, gets a little more nuanced characterization than usual. Her treatment of Cinder stems from ignorance and fear, which adds a layer of complexity.
She believes that cyborgs are not real people, but soulless abominations.
It’s a reminder that not all villains are purely evil; sometimes, they’re just misguided.
“Do your kind even know what love is? Can you feel anything at all, or is it just... programmed?”
A Note on the Writing Style of “Cinder”
One thing I really appreciated in “Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles” was that there was never any major info dumping despite having a lot of details to unpack.
We get to see this world from the point-of-view of both a cyborg citizen of New Beijing and a new ruler dealing with the politics of it all.
Meyer’s writing is engaging and immersive. She does a fantastic job of world-building, making New Beijing and its inhabitants feel real. The pacing is well-handled, with plenty of action and tension to keep the reader on their toes.
“Cinder” is a thrilling start to “The Lunar Chronicles”. While it has its flaws, particularly with Prince Kai’s character, the compelling plot, well-developed characters, and immersive world-building make it a worthwhile read. I’m eager to see where Meyer takes Cinder’s story in the next book of “The Lunar Chronicles” series.
If you enjoyed this review and are intrigued by the premise, I highly recommend giving “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer a read. It’s a fresh take on the classic Cinderella tale that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve read it and what you thought.
HOW MANY BOOKS ARE IN THE LUNAR CHRONICLES SERIES?
There four main books (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter).
There is one prequel book, Fairest, which mentions events that took place way before the events in the first book, “Cinder”.
Then there’s a collection of short stories in “Stars Above”, which serves as a companion book to the completed quartet.
“Cinder” Book AGE RAting
There is some violence and talk of death due to the deadly plaque know as letumosis. However, there is not spice or course language.
According reading on Amazon, the age deemed appropriate is 11 years old and up. However, I believe adults will enjoy this one as well.
BOOKS LIKE THE LUNAR CHRONICLES
If you are craving even more Cinderella retellings check these books out.
If you’re interested in a great Rumpelstilskin retelling that will knock your socks off, check out my book review of “Spinning Silver” by Naomi Novik here.
If you haven’t read “Cinder” yet, but would like to save this article for later, be sure to pin it on Pinterest so you can remember to add it to your TBR list.
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