Book Review: Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

Cinder has a resilient main character and a plot that keeps moving, making the book difficult to put down.

Cinder is loosely based on the Cinderella fairy tale. There's a wicked step-mother, a prince who is having a ball, and Cinder isn't allowed to go to the ball. But there's a lot more to this story. Cinder is a cyborg -- part human but part mechanical parts since she had an accident when she was young. Cinder is also a mechanic who fixes all kinds of gadgets and technical things. The story takes place in a future "New Beijing" and Prince Kai brings his malfunctioning android for Cinder to fix.

There's a plague for which there is no cure that is killing many citizens, including the Emperor -- which means Kai will be taking over the throne. There is an international dispute between Queen Levana from Luna (the  country on the moon) who wants to join their kingdoms by marrying the prince. Lunars (as they are called) have special powers to be able to influence others' minds. This makes it difficult for Kai to resist the Queen.

So, as you can see, there's no shortage of plot here. Meyer brings it all together in the end, and yes, by about 1/4 of the way through the book you have it figured out. But you just don't know all the details of how everything will be discovered, and the characters and details are unique enough to keep you reading.

This book is the first in a series, and given that we are left a bit hanging at the end, I can't wait for the rest of the story. I think teens who love a kick-ass heroine, some sci-fi techno details, and a fast-paced plot will be drawn to this one. I'll definitely be recommending it!

Published by Feiwel & Friends, January 3, 2012
eBook ARC obtained from Netgalley
400 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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