Review of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

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.

With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original.

Hello, my fellow book lovers! Today, I will be reviewing Cinder, by Marissa Meyer!

Tone

While some authors might have made the mood feel whimsical for a book like this, Meyer chose a much more down-to-earth tone. I found this to be an excellent choice, as it not only helped me relate to the book better, but also cemented the fact that the world setting in Cinder is far from perfect. Another benefit of the tamer tone was that the sci-fi and fantasy elements really popped out in a wonderful way.

Characters

The characters in Cinder are excellent. For one thing, they are multidimensional, with both good qualities and flaws. None of the characters are the 'perfect hero', but are instead a bunch of flawed people doing their best in situations that don't have a good solution. I also enjoyed how each character had unique motivations that affected their actions in a visible way.

Plot

Cinder has one of the most interesting plots I've ever read. It was incredibly enjoyable, with twists and turns that managed to surprise me, while still making sense. One of my favorite things about the plot was how the readers followed two different characters, Cinder and Kai, and could see different aspects of the world from different perspectives. Another wonderful thing about the plot was how each action made had a ripple effect that ended up affecting the rest of the plot.

Ending Remarks

Cinder is a wonderful and unique fairy tale retelling that is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat!