Book Review

The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

After reading so many reviews on this book, I was left really curious to say the least. When I walked past the bookstore last week I picked up a copy, bought it without thinking any more of it and walked straight out before my mind start to wonder about the pile of unread books at home. I love Sci-Fi movies with all my heart, and I can count on one hand how many romance feature films I actually enjoyed. Which is weird when I think about it because when it comes to books, my preferred genres are switched around. So after completing Cinder, I could not answer the question as to why that is…

Cinder is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, and it is a futuristic re-telling of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. However, this story is very different to the one you may remember from your childhood. Cinder is cyborg. She also happens to be an extremely talented mechanic who works at a little market in the streets of New Beijing where androids and flying cars are no longer a thing of the future. For all the advancements that are now regarded normal, top scientists across the world still cannot find a cure for a deadly plague that threatens the civilians. After her step sister falls ill, her vicious step mother places all the blame on Cinder, and sends her away for the science trial programme to help find a cure. It is here, the very place Cinder has been trying to avoid for fear of never being able to see the light of day again, that she find more answers about her mysterious past than she could have ever imagined.

Of course there is a Prince too. And after a chance encounter, Cinder soon realizes that there is much more to Prince Kai’s growing concern for the staggering number of deaths caused by the incurable plague… The Lunar Queen is watching; a Queen more powerful than any before, who lets nothing stand in the way of what she wants. She’s biding her time so that she can strike at the opportune moment – when the Earthens are at their weakest.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, because it was so different to what I normally read. It was also very detailed and descriptive, but not in a way that made it seem unnecessary. I found it a bit predictable – which is why there are so many mixed feelings about this book – but there were more twists in between that kept me intrigued. I liked how we got to read from more than one person’s perspective because it gave a better picture of the whole story. I am really excited to read the rest of the series, and even more excited to explore the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre since there are SO many books I want to get hold of. I am not sure why it’s taken me this long to read more in this genre, but I am so excited (can you tell how excited I am??) because I have a lot of catching up to do.

Have you read Cinder? And what were your thoughts on it? I’d love to know.

– Nihaad