Fantastic Fairytales - Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Published: January 3rd 2012

Publisher: Fiewel and Friends

Pages: 387

e-copy: Courtesy of Netgalley and publisher

Summary: Goodreads

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. 


I had so much fun reading Cinder.  It was so much more than I had expected in a retelling of Cinderella.  Yes, we have an orphan with a wicked stepmother and two stepsisters, and there is a ball and a handsome prince.  But that is where the similarity ends.  Think futuristic, dystopian, space-operatic Cinderella, and you might be a little closer to the mark. 


Ms Meyer has managed to take a well loved fairy tale and turn it completely upside down.  At the same time she has managed to keep everything we all love about the story.    Cinder is a wonderfully complex, mysterious character whom you just can't help but love.  Circumstances fly out of her control at every turn, but she manages to pull herself to her feet, literally and figuratively, and make the best of every bad situation.  Prince Kai is just swoon worthy.  I love the fact that he escapes from the palace wearing a hoodie! 


I could tell you more, but really I just want you all to go out and read Cinder for yourselves.  Fairy tale fans will love it, dystopian fans will love it,  mystery fans will love it too.  The only negative thing I have to say is that we have to wait until some unknown time next year before we can find out what happens to Cinder.  May'be it's not ' happily ever after' after all! Give yourself a treat in the New Year - January 3rd to be exact - and buy a copy.  You will not regret it.