Title: CinderGenre: Young Adult, Sci-fi
Publication: January 3 2012, Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 387 pages, Paperback
Source: Borrowed (Thanks, Krisi!)
Rating: 5/5 CUPCAKES!!! :D
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. . . .Guys, I finally read it. I've been wanting to read Cinder since it was published early last year, but I never got around at it, and I really am an idiot for not reading it sooner, because it was AMAZING. Breath-takingly amazing. Such a genius, original idea! Thank you to Marissa Meyer for bringing originality to the YA genre!
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.
The reason Cinder is an original masterpiece needs no explanation. It's retelling of the classic, Cinderella. The main character, Cinder, that is based on Cinderella is not only a mechanic, but a cyborg. The story is set in New Beijing. There is a swoon-worthy prince that you can't help but fall in love with. There is the wicked step mother and the two step-sisters, one of them detestable, the other one quite loveable. And then there is an evil queen that is so despicably evil you can't fathom it. There is a forbidden romance. However, it didn't end in an "happily ever after"...Throw that all together and you have an amazing, powerful novel that has been written by a marvellous writer.
Cinder is a book I have always heard a lot about, and almost every single review I've seen for it has either rated it 4 or 5 stars. There have been quite a few books that have been deemed amazing by most readers and then when I read it...I could barely finish it. Thank goodness that wasn't the case with Cinder. As I wanted to love it, and I did!
I immediately fell in love with the characters, the setting, the storyline, the writing and the general all-round awesomeness that is Cinder.
The characters are so real. They aren't bland, disinteresting as characters that I have had the displeasure of reading about in the past. Cinder was such an interesting character, with so many secrets (that she, herself, didn't know) and she was the most original character I've read about in YA. She's a cyborg, you can't get better than that, can you? She was also loveable. She would die to protect those she loves, she would die to protect the earth and she was a selfless, kind, intelligent, brave character that didn't deserve to be treated so badly like she so often was.
*spoiler* Although I did find her incredibly stupid when she declined Kai's offer of going to the ball with him, if he asked me I would've said yes before he could even get the whole question out. However, she did have really good reason to declining his offer, so I forgave her for that. *spoiler*
IKO! Iko was Cinder's android, and I loved her so much! I love how her and Cinder's conversations went, and that whenever they discussed Prince Kai, Iko would be all giddy like a teenager discussing a pop star and it was really cute reading about what she had to say. *spoiler* I was really disappointed and upset when Adri had Iko dismantled, *spoiler* as Iko added even more fun and character to Cinder, and I really hope that Cinder will find an android body to place Iko's personality chip in soon, as I can't wait to read more about her!
Favourite Iko Quotes:
This made Cinder pause and squint into Iko’s blinding light. “Why would the prince dance with me?”Iko’s fan hummed as she sought an answer. “Because you won’t have grease on your face this time.”
“Cinder twisted up her lips. "Do you think it could have a virus?"Cinder's family was horrible! Her stepmother was an atrocious human being and didn't deserve to treat Cinder like that at all, as Cinder previously said, she didn't ask to be turned into a cyborg. Pearl, her one step-sister was just as bad as Adri, sneering at Cinder and treating her like dirt. Peony was a really sweet little girl *spoiler* and I honestly thought that she would survive and when she didn't I was really upset, as she was one of the only people that treated Cinder with respect. *spoiler* and it was so sweet seeing the sibling relationship between her and Cinder.
"Maybe her programming was overwhelmed by Prince Kai's uncanny hotness.”
I also liked the doctor, the royal doctor that runs tests on Cinder and discovers quite a few startling facts about her. He was also an interesting character and I loved reading the sarcastic chats between the two.
Favourite Doctor and Cinder Quote:
“I don't know. I don't actually remember anything from before the surgery."
His eyebrows rose, his blue eyes sucking in all the light of the room. "The cybernetic operation?"
"No, the sex change."
The doctor's smile faltered.
"I'm joking.”
“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.”And now I'm going to talk about my other favourite character. PRINCE KAI! He is officially my latest book boyfriend. He was so sweet, and funny, and just so wonderful, I don't even know how to DESCRIBE it. And he is so HUMBLE. Even though he is a prince, he doesn't brag about the fact that he is, he even dances with Cinder and stuff and isn't ashamed of it. He is just amazing, you should read Cinder, and fall in love with him like I did, and trust me, you won't be able to help loving him! If he asked me to the ball, let alone just glanced at me, I'd be all:
And I'm pretty sure he'd be like:
Oh, and one last character? Queen Levana. Pure Evil. Honestly, a despicable creature!
The plot was...genius! Quite a few unexpected turns had me gawking and re-reading the page over and over again, just so I could grasp what the author could possibly be revealing. With Cinder *spoiler* being a Lunar AND Princess Selene, *spoiler* I was completely gobsmacked and didn't see it coming at ALL! Does anyone else think that was pure genius?! Wow! It was probably one of the biggest twists I've ever read!
When I read that shocker, I was like "Wait, what?!" I was shocked. Completely shocked. And it was one of the best endings ever.
Cinder was an absolutely, amazing, stunning novel. It was an interesting twist on the classic story tale, however, Cinder managed to be its own but with still retaining the familiarity of Cinderella. Lovable characters, excellent writing, an astounding plot..Cinder is an amazing read that I would recommend to everyone! All I can do is thank Marissa Meyer for writing such a phenomenal story, and that I could have the pleasure of reading it!
