Reason for Reading: Upon reading the summary, I knew this book was for me as it had everything I'd love in a YA novel: fairytale retelling, sci-fi, cyborg, and dystopia. I had planned not to start any new series this year but I didn't know this was the start of a series until I started to read the book.

This was fabulous! I have to admit that when it really boils down to it I do much prefer science fiction to fantasy, and yet I don't read nearly as much of it. This hit the spot perfectly. A fairytale retelling that goes far beyond the scope of the original fairytale. Meyer has managed to hold onto the basic characters and some major events while throwing the familiar plot out the window to bring us a new version of Cinderella that had me glued to my seat and turning pages almost faster than I could read. Cinder is the dominant character in this book and one fantastic female lead who carries the plot all on her own. I took to her character right away and found her to be very well-written, with genuine feelings and emotion. She is a person who stays true to her own nature no matter how it will affect appearances sake. I also found the dystopian world intriguing. Set in some unknown future, a century after World War IV, the world has changed its political divisions and ruling systems, is different in many ways and yet not so much that it is still a believable possible reality. The book ends looking forwards to the sequel and yet has a satisfying ending for the book in hand. Something I appreciate in series books. One of my favourite reads this year.

(Originally posted at http://www.lostatmidnightreviews.blogspot.ca/)

If you haven't heard about Cinder, I'm not sure where you've been for the past few months. The buzz this book has gotten has been insane! I haven't heard a negative word about it. How could I, considering how amazing this book is? After reading all the rave reviews, I knew I had to pick up a copy of Cinder. I mean, a re-imagined version of Cinderella as a cyborg? What's not to love?

I'm a huge fan of fairy tales; I have been since I was a kid. Combine that with my serious love of science fiction, and Cinder had me from the first page. Meyer's creativity breathes new life into this magnificent fairy tale, and the characters she's created are fantastic: Cinder, the over-worked mechanic, Prince Kai, the reluctant leader, Iko, the robot with tons of personality, and what would a fairy tale be without an evil queen, this one from the moon! The story, although slightly predictable, was a page-turner. I found myself unable to think about anything else until I found out what happened next. The chemistry between Kai and Cinder was endearing, and watching Cinder gather her strength and face her own fears made me cheer. I loved the futuristic world in which it all took place, and found myself completely invested in the fate of these characters. The story wove together beautifully, already establishing a base for the next three novels in the series. The Lunar Chronicles is going to be a fantastic series. I can tell already!

Another thing I love about Cinder is that it was started as a NaNoWriMo novel. If you haven't heard of National Novel Writing Month (website here) it's in November and each participant tries to write a 50,000 word novel in that month. It's crazy, intense, and makes November my favorite month of the year. I have participated for the past three years, and have been successful each time. To know that this amazing novel started off from one of my favorite things in the world is inspiring. And very encouraging. If she could do it maybe, just maybe, I could too (maybe).

Check out this book, if you haven't already. Marissa Meyer's debut novel has instantly launched her onto my auto-buy list! I expected a great story, but it was even better. I cannot wait to read Scarlet, Meyer's take on Little Red Riding Hood.

In this futuristic retelling of the classic Cinderella story we are introduced to Cinder- a cyborg (human but with technological enhancements) and famed mechanic of New Beijing, working in her weekly stall at the market when she meets Prince Kai of the Commonwealth. Incidentally, he needs her mechanical expertise to repair an android that holds some critical information. This fateful encounter begins Cinder's whirlwind quest for freedom from her 'wicked' stepmother, with a backdrop of political intrigue amid a widespread deadly plague.

I picked up this book after hearing nothing but high praise for it in the days before release. Plus I'm a huge science fiction geek, and love fairy tales, so this just seemed like a perfect combination for me.

I loved the cover, it's simple in its design but iconic in the way it brought together the story of Cinderella using the 'slipper' and science fiction by showing the tiniest hint of mechanical skeleton with a bold red colouring for the shoe to catch your attention.

I tore through it in a day, I honestly couldn't put it down because the pace was perfect. The moments of action were interspersed with slower dialogue scenes, but these slower scenes are vital to explaining the intricacies of the plot and tended to have one-liners, but I absolutely loved the one liners - no matter how corny they are, they lightened the mood in serious situations and brought life to the characters. The plot was a bit predictable, but I think that's to be expected with a retelling- most people know what generally happens, but the foreshadowing and twist reveals were still brilliantly executed.

The setting is a rich eclectic mix of modern and traditional architectures which make up New Beijing. The technology mixed with the more slum like areas were extremely effective in showing the social divide, and the gruesome details of what becomes of plague victims.

Oh the characters. I LOVED Cinder's sidekick robot Iko!! Iko was just so adorable and reminded me of the Tachikoma tanks from the manga/anime Ghost in the Shell, I had the dubbed voice and their little claw flailing expressions running through my head whenever Iko was talking. If you've never seen Ghost in the Shell and these Tachikoma's read Cinder and then watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52qPU0lWqhU&feature=related .

Cinder to me was a very level headed, rational- straight forward individual, and this is probably the robotics side of her talking, but you can see the human side in the way she shows concern and emotions for others, Marissa just did a great job balancing out her features.

Then there's Prince Kai… I'm quite conflicted as to what I think about him, one thing's for sure he's not your typical hoity toity royal, and that's where he wins some brownie points, especially in the way he interacts with others, but there's just some certain elements to his character such as self depreciation that gets a little annoying over time.

One set of antagonists in the form of Cinder's stepmother Adri and stepsister Pearl are perfect as the cruel slave drivers, in contrast with the other stepsister Peony as a kind friend to Cinder. Then there's Queen Levana, ruler of the totalitarian and threatening Lunars from the moon, with their whole mysterious background filled with myths, legends and magic. I can't wait to find out more about the Lunars.

When I finished reading Cinder, my first thought was huh, this is kind of like Sailormoon meets Battlestar Galactica. At this point I didn't know that Marissa started out writing Sailormoon fan fictions - but after I found out I was even more excited about this because as a 90's kid, Sailormoon was the standard breakfast TV show (I was almost always late for elementary school because the show didn't end till 9 am. ) and it was just a great reminder! All in all Marissa did a great job taking the bones of the Cinderella story and making it her own, this is definitely a must read!

You can read all of my reviews at http://www.allyuringreads.blogspot.com

Let me start out by saying that this is a tough one for me. In the beginning of the novel I was having a hard time connecting to any of the characters. I felt as if we were thrust into this futuristic dystopian world and we were just supposed to know everything. There were people (Lunars) living on the moon and we were just supposed to accept that and dive right in. There were people who had been on deaths door but were saved by scientists with robotic limbs and organs. A 3rd world war had come and gone and the world had changed. Even after finishing the novel I'm left with an unnerving feeling that I just don't know enough about the Lunars or the war. I don't like that feeling, I like resolve.
Our main Character Cinder is a cyborg (one of those people saved by the scientists) who lives under the firm hand of her stepmother Adri. She also has two stepsisters Pearl & Peony, only they are not "evil" per sé. Sure pearl seems cold hearted and distant to Cinder throughout the whole book but Peony is a friend to her. I like the loose basing off the fairy tale and I'm happy that Marissa Meyer didn't follow it to a T, it left a space for you to feel excited rather than expectant as you turned the pages. Of course there is a Prince (what would any tale be without one?), Prince Kai and he was a different sort of Prince. I didn't get the feeling that he was pretentious, I instead got the feeling that he was kind and, well, scared.
For the first half of the novel I felt as if I was just trying to make it to the end to find out about this futuristic world. But, once I reached the halfway point the story really picked up for me. I began to get tingles when Kai and Cinder were together, and I began to become hopeful for their future. Even though the big twist of the novel is predictable within the first 50 pages I really enjoyed the ending. It definitely ends with a cliffhanger and leaves you angry that you have to wait for 2013 to find out the next chapters in Cinders' story.
With that I say this; although the novel is definitely slow to start, it goes out with a bang and I would say it's worth the read.

Anyone can write a re-telling of Cinderella, but only Marissa Meyer can write a fantastic, original, and completely enchanting Cinderella re-telling as amazing as this one!

To say that I loved this book would be an understatement! Cinder dodged every bullet I worried about when I picked it up. Rather than being a simple Cinderella knock-off, Meyer created a story with lovable characters, a captivating world, and a story line that was a blast to follow from beginning to end.

For a cyborg and the best mechanic in New Beijing, Cinder surprised me with her spunk, sarcasm, and fun personality that made me adore her from start to finish! Prince Kai was so adorable, just like the sweet and fairytale-esque romance between them. It was perfectly developed and had the right amount of scenes that made your cheeks hurt from smiling.

Another thing that made Cinder so original and captivating was the world. There are robots, cyborgs, an otherworldly plague with no cure - and there was also a really cool supernatural aspect with the Lunars (moon people), who could basically control minds and make people see things that weren't real.

A mixture of both fairytale and dystopian elements with a supernatural twist, Cinder is a mesmerizing debut that you don't want to miss! This is one of those books that I'd recommend to everybody because I honestly believe that it can be enjoyed by anyone who can read! :)

BUY or BORROW?: I'm definitely planning on buying myself a copy of this book! If that doesn't say BUY ME like a neon sign, I don't know what would!

Review first posted at http://unautrehistoire.blogspot.com/

Cinder was SO good. I am telling you the truth. This book is as good as everyone is saying it is. Take my word on it.

Cinder is a retelling of the popular Cinderella fairy tale. I was going to call it a modern day retelling, but there is nothing modern day about it.

The story introduces us to Cinder; a cyborg- a human with robotic parts- and she lives in an era of a terrible plague that is taking the lives of humans at a rapid pace, with no cure in sight. How Cinder became cyborg is a grand mystery as she was "adopted" by a man who died soon after he returned home with her. Therefore Cinder is now the property of his wife- her evil step mother. Anywho, after a series of unfortunate events Cinder finds herself at the palace of their nations monarchy as a test subject. It is here she meets Dr. Erland who helps Cinder discover the truth about herself and her past.

Meyer does such a wonderful job of telling this story. She puts a wonderful spin on this fairy tale retelling, one that isn't boring or trite- something that can sometimes happen when attempting to tell a story that's already been told. I loved the futuristic aspect to the story, I also really appreciated how it wasn't overly sci fi, everything was described well enough to keep confusion limited.

The characters that Meyer created were fantastic. Every single one. From Cinder herself to her evil step mother, From Prince Kai all the way to Iko the robotic servant. They were all original and well developed, even the crazy lunar queen was a fascinating character.

There were so many amazing things about Cinder. It really was a pleasure to read. Even if you think that it's not really your style, I would encourage you to give it a try. It might surprise you!

After hearing tons of praise for Marissa Meyer's debut novel Cinder, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy to see what all the excitement was about! I just couldn't wait to see what science fiction spin Marissa Meyer would give to one of my favourite fairy tales. Sure, I thought the novel had its predictable moments but that didn't make the reading experience any less enjoyable... and there were also plenty of times where I was completely surprised. I was addicted to Cinder from the very first page and couldn't put the book down until I was finished!

Cinder was an exciting tale of adventure set in an unfamiliar future where a deadly plague, letumosis, has been steadily killing Earth's population. In the meantime, the Lunars, under the power-hungry rule of Queen Levana, threaten to break the the precarious peace between them and the Earthens. After Prince Kai approaches Cinder with a secret task of fixing an old android, a chain of events are set off which neither of them could ever have imagined.

Cinder is more than just a talented mechanic with a canny ability to fix what others cannot; she's also a cyborg with a mysterious past that could unlock hidden revelations that may change the fate of more than just her own future. Prince Kai was sweet and down-to-earth, and I didn't envy the vast amount of responsibility resting on his shoulders to protect his people. The friendship which formed between Cinder and Prince Kai left me holding my breath for the magical moment when it would hopefully lead to something more.

I have a wonderful feeling the Lunar Chronicles is already a classic in the making. In any case, you'll be hard-pressed to find a novel that's as creative and original as Cinder among the many YA novels on shelves today. Marissa Meyer has written a Cinderella retelling unlike anything I've ever read before! It's going to be a long wait, filled with high expectations, for the second novel in the series, Scarlet!

You can also read this review at:
http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.com/2012/01/cinder-by-marissa-meyer.html

Cinder is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles Series. It's an original retelling of a traditional favourite (Cinderella) and it stands out as a fabulous read. The buzz for Cinder is quickly gaining steam and I can see why. Meyer, creates a beloved character in Cinder- a cyborg who is ostracised from society because of her differences and seen as her stepmothers property instead of someone to be valued.

When I think about the "classic" Cinderella, I think of someone wistful, sweet and meek. I loved that Cinder was feisty, stood up for herself whenever she could, and fought against being bullied-even if she didn't win.

If I had one issue it was the books predictability. I knew in under 100 pages how the rest of the story for this book would play out. I think there might have been too much foreshadowing in the beginning. However, I don't feel like that deterred from the overall enjoyment of the book at all. I wanted more, especially after that cliffhanger ending. I can not wait for the next one!. Marissa Meyer, please write fast! Definitely recommended.

I have been waiting to read this highly-anticipated novel by Marissa Meyer for the last few months. The cover alone drew me in, but the premise of the story equally caught my interest. What an imaginative undertaking, to make an iconic of a character as Cinderella be a cyborg. I enjoyed that the setting was not a commonly used one such as United States or England (even though the one mention of Canada uses "hesitant" in the sentence ), but I felt the Asian cultural aspect of New Beijing could have been more fully utilized.

Meyer's writing of her characters is descriptive, with a lot of detail and attention paid to their mannerisms and facial expressions. I couldn't quite get on board with Prince Kai's constant sarcasm though. It felt out of place to me, and didn't match the overall environment of the story. I loved this futuristic twist on a familiar tale, with enough variations on a classic to keep you guessing. Even though I saw some plot points from quite early on, it's the journey to get to that moment that kept me reading. The first in a 4-book series, Cinder has definitely piqued my interest to keep me wanting more. I'd be curious to see if the subsequent installments are still focusing on the Cinderella story, or whether other fairy tales make their appearances too.

This and other reviews can be found at JustALilLost.com

Really liked this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I have to say that that was a great book. It took me 24 hours to devour and I can't wait for the second book to come out ( saddly it's due to be released in 2013....). The only thing that was alittle anoying, was that the story too much like the original " Cinderella " ( the main character's name is Cinder). But never the less I recomend it to every one who loves books.

This came in and I was intrigued as I enjoy a good cyber-future read, and this blew me away. Loosely based on Cinderella, it was thoroughly engaging and still managed to surprise me even though I knew the original story. I could not put it down. The earth is now comprised of five countries, The United Kingdon, the European Federation, the African Union, the American Republic and Australia. There have also been humans that migrated to the moon that are called Lunars and have an interesting back story of their own. Does Cinder go to the ball, or does she stay at home relegated to fixing comm units for her step-mother? Will the Prince marry the Wicked Queen Lavana of Luna or does he have another fate? I loved this new spin and cannot wait for the next three installments of this four book series.

Cinder is a completely original take on a classic tale. I've read a lot of re-tellings but for me this one really stands out. It combines all the entrancing characteristics of our traditional fairy tales - overcoming obstacles, a whirlwind romance, hope in the face of despair. The type of stuff that makes you sigh after you read it. What makes Cinder remarkable, however, is that Marissa Meyer has combined all that with what is arguably my favourite genre - science fiction. It made the story more grimy, more edgy. It made the story of Cinderella way more exciting.

If all that wasn't enough Marissa Meyer has added in Sailor Moon references! She's a former writer of Sailor Moon fanfiction, and you can clearly see how it has influenced her work here. Some of the references are more obvious - like the idea of a Moon Kingdom - while others are more subtle. This was a welcome and just plain awesome throwback to my time as a teen, running home to watch the newest episode of Sailor Moon, and it also feeds into my current addiction to the reissues of the traditional manga series.

There are a few details about this book that were less than fantastic. I felt like the characters could have been developed a little bit more and I personally could have used a little more background information. However, I found this in line with most fairy tales, so it didn't really bother me all that much. Those teeny tiny flaws can also be overlooked as Cinder touches on some more serious social issues. Cyborgs (like Cinder) are treated like second class citizens and used as test subjects. This more serious turn gave a much needed edge to the story and is what will keep this book of my shelves for years to come.

Cinder is the first book in a series of four. Each will approach a different, well known, fairy tale. I can't wait to see her take on other fairy tales in the rest of the Lunar Chronicles and how she blends them in this futuristic setting. If you haven't read Cinder yet, I highly recommend you do. It's a great way to start off 2012!

This and other reviews at Christa's Hooked on Books (http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com)

Meyer definitely surprised me with an original and spellbinding story! Cinder is a new tale by its own with certain elements that we already know from the well known and classic fairy-tale of Cinderella. Highly dynamic and entertaining, Cinder by Marissa Meyer will easily engage readers into this futuristic and visually attractive world that is much more than the classic tale!

There are many things I really enjoyed about Cinder but what it grabbed more my attention was the world Meyer created. Cinder takes place in New Beijing, 126 years after World War IV but it's still very difficult to place it in time. It seems that is very, very in the future and technology is also so advanced that there are cyborgs! Yes! Cyborg and Cinder, our lovely heroine, seems to be one of them. Also, what I really liked about this world is that Meyer did mention some brief historical background that enriches the consistency of New Beijing and the world the characters live in as well as the political issues between humans and Lunars (just a hint, Lunars do not come from Earth ;) that menace the Earth with a new war.

Cinder and Kai were definitely my favorite characters! Cinder is a lovely cyborg, very intelligent and the best mechanic in the market! She is very down to earth and doesn't get carried away (not even with love promises). In the other hand, Kai is the Prince and soon-to-be Emperor of New Beijing. Kai is very mature, yet when it comes to love, he still is a teenager boy and behave like such *sigh*. And talking about love! the subtle blooming romance was perfectly well developed, though I wish I could see more of Cinder and Kai together in the future! (I can't get enough of Kai!)

Meyer certainly did a great job re-telling this tale the way she did. Cyborg Cinderella in the future really works well even when certain things can be predictable (specially the ones related to the classic tale) And because of this, I didn't find myself very surprised by the twists in the plot but it still is a highly engaging and dynamic story that readers will definitely find hard to put down.

Cinder is a never-seen-before new world that readers would absolutely love to live in (regardless the maybe-war) with alluring characters and many things that still need to be discovered! Cinder is a highly entertaining read with identity, belonging, romantic and political themes that begs to be read asap! Do not be skeptical about re-tellings because this one really works out!

Cinder's synopsis caught me instantly. Months before the cover for Marissa Meyer's Cinder was revealed, news spread quickly about the upcoming novel's premise. What was it about? A re-telling of the beloved classic Cinderella with an insane futuristic twist. Was I immediately sold? YES! Marissa Meyer's novel sounded like nothing I'd ever heard before. I mean, come on, a cyborg girl named Cinder? Really, how often do you come across something as exciting as that?

However, with that said, I was exceptionally reluctant to dive into the novel. Re-tellings and me never do so well. I often get disappointed, but with some gentle coaxing I hopped right in and the results were beyond surprising!

"They took away her beautiful clothes,
dressed her in an old gray smock,
and gave her wooden shoes."

A Set of Incredibly Interesting Characters
Inspired By Those From a Beloved Classic

Marissa Meyer's Cinder, as assumed, revisits the popular characters from the classic of Cinderella, though with a unique twist that screams out Marissa's interesting personal touch.

Linh Cinder - Our protagonist. She's a cyborg and a mechanic, forced to slave around the market place to earn her keep at home.
Linh Adri - Adri is Cinder's stepmother and legal guardian.
Linh Peony - Peony is one of Cinder's step-sisters.
Linh Pearl - Pearl is another of Cinder's step-sisters.
Iko - An android/friend of Cinders. Iko is hilarious!
Prince Kaito - The handsome prince of Commonwealth.
Queen Levana - Queen of Luna and their respected Lunar people.

Cinder is exactly how I expected. She's strong, blunt, and aspires to break out of the hell hole she's stuck in with her stepmother. However, with Peony and Iko, Cinder manages to stay sane throughout the ordeal, working hard daily at the market place as a mechanic. Adri and Pearl are as cruel as they are in the beloved classic, constantly bickering and forcing Cinder to go out of her way to do their bidding. Prince Kaito, however, was fairly interesting. With a unique twist on his storyline, and an interesting setting in New Beijing, I found his story to be the one I wanted to learn the most about. Queen Levana was a new addition and personal touch from author Marissa Meyer, one I loved very much!

Welcome to New Beijing!

New Beijing, though incredibly unique, passed off as a typical dystopian crumbling society. However, what made it it's very own setting, was the pandemic of a very mysterious disease plaguing it's citizens. Not only that, but their society, itself, stood strongly on it's own against many others I've read. Additionally, the setting and mention of Lunar people struck me immediately! It added an incredibly unique spin to the story that pushed Cinder's developments beyond what I'd hoped and expected. Readers will be very satisfied with it's outcomes!

The Dialogue and a Revamped Use of Cinderella

It's not a well hidden secret that Cinder by Marissa Meyer features a revamped spin to the classic tale of Cinderella. In total honesty, I was exceptionally reluctant to dive into Cinder immediately (as I'd mentioned earlier). I've had very poor experience with fairytale re-tellings. They almost always never come out well, showing an extreme lack of organization and excitement. However, with Cinder by Marissa Meyer, I was beyond intrigued. Marissa's novel, unlike others who use revamped classics, uses the classic of Cinderella as a small foundation to build the incredible world setting of New Beijing. It was wonderfully unique and interesting to see how she used that little inspiration that was given by the classic to build something grand and exciting!


Sequel Now!
Please and Thank You!

Gorgeous cover - Check!
Interesting and unique premise - Check!
Blissful cast of characters- Check!
A wonderful beginning to what I fortell to be a series of epic porportions - DOUBLE CHECK!

Readers and lovers of anything young adult will want to dive into this novel the minute it arrives on shelves! It's unique, exciting, entrancing, and beyond anything I ever expected! Though Cinder's predictability is pretty straightforward, Marissa Meyer's unique touches make it an absolutely thrilling ride!

What do you get when you merge fairy tale lore, steampunk and dystopian fiction? You get Cinder. Wonderful and complex world building. Excellent twists and turns. A charming Prince and a no-nonsense mechanic, Cinder will have you totally engaged in this fabulous new take on the classic tale. Definitely one to watch for 2012.

I work at an Indigo and was lucky enough to get an advanced copy. I plowed through this book in less than two days and had to be dragged away from it to return to work.

Cinder is a sci-fi/futuristic adaptation of Cinderella. Cinder herself is a cyborg mechanic. Orphaned in an accident at a young age, Cinder is taken in by a brilliant doctor and is brought to New Beijing to live with his family. A few years later, the doctor dies and she is left at the mercy of his wife and two daughters, only one of whom is remotely kind to her.

Her talents as a mechanic keep the family afloat, and after a secret request from a very important visitor, Cinder is thrown into a world of political intregue that will turn the world she knew upside down.

My only complaint is that there is only one book so far because I am desperate to find out what happens next.