by Marissa Meyer
Hardcover, 387 pages
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Premise: Ganked from 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.
Aaaah!!
What's the word I'm looking for?! "Cliff-hanger!"
This book was such a fast, fun read, that I stole reading minutes and lost track of my surroundings repeatedly. Including the middle of the night and the cafe at Target while "watching the kids." I am proud to report I did not read while driving, although I was tempted.
I'm not going to spoil this book... it comes out in January!!
Cinder is a fun character. She struggles with being a cyborg and the prejudice of people around her towards "her kind". I'm not sure why, exactly, a cyborg is considered less of a person after it was explained how technology saved lives and the person, the personality and basic core of the person, haven't changed. By the end, I thought this might be a localized prejudice specific for the Eastern Commonwealth, but I'm not sure.
The prejudice against the Lunars was much more defined and logical for me. I am still curious how "glamour" is different than lying or magic. And then the Lunars are required to use their glamour or experience strong negative consequences. Basically, I am skeptical of Lunars after reading this book, but I love cyborgs. Apparently, I have to wait for the next book to see if I'm on track!!
Cinder has a great attitude towards those around her which is displayed with her friendship towards her sister, who she might have been jealous of, and her friendship with Iko, the robot with a personality. She is open to friendship with Kai and Dr Erland, although she had to overcome strong reactions to them.
I'm not sure why Kai chose to be friends with Cinder, but their friendship is honest, refreshing and beautifully developed, which is a reason by itself.
The central mystery is mentioned casually at the beginning and I immediately jumped to guess where it would lead. That said, the book altogether was an entirely new and different look at Cinderella. I love the quotes in front of the four sections tying the story to the fairy tale largely because none of those connections were central to the story. I did not guess how Cinder and Kai would meet or get to know each other, or how Cinder's family would suppress her, and certainly not how she might leave her shoe on the step! Each of the connections with the fairy tale were so surprising and the story is much deeper and broader in it's own right, that the sudden similarities were delightful.
Cinder is far from predictable even as a retelling, and as I mentioned already, I couldn't read it fast enough. This is a great book! And I can't wait for the next two!!
