Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles

I read this book a while ago and it still has stuck with me as one of my favorite reads. Marissa Meyer creates this world that is somewhere between Star Wars and a modern fairy tale with a twist. I absolutely love Sci-Fi and this mash up was certainly not a disappointment. Cinderella + Sci-Fi = LOVE IT Taking place in futuristic Beijing, Cinder has a very unique and different setting from anything I have read before. Many countries throughout the world have formed into new alliances and empires. And the moon also has inhabitants. There is something called the plague. It’s an infectious disease that kills thousands of people. It is sort of the equivalent to cancer except more….vicious in its rapid development. And of course, there is not cure. The main character is Cinder Linh, or in the book it is properly Linh Cinder. Names are said backwards in Japanese and Chinese cultures; where the last name is said first, and then the first name. Cinder is a cyborg. Which means she is half human and half robot. She is a mechanic, who works for her stepmother and lives in the city fixing robots and other technology in the city. People fear her because she is different. A robot is not considered a being with emotions. Cyborgs are not really considered people because they are half machine. Well, they are, they are just sort of….frowned upon. Cinder is not happy with her life but she tries to make the best of it. She is a very strong character and I found I liked her right away. In most YA books the heroine is an idiot and unrelatable. But Cinder is a character most readers will be able to identify with. She is real and has real feelings. Her actions and decisions also make sense with the story. And with who she is as a person. Cinder does follow the main themes of Cinderella. But it is not super predicable in how it is portrayed. Cinder does meet Prince Kai, and instead of hiding she is a commoner, like in the real Cinderella story, she hides her cyborg foot and hand from him so he does not know she is half machine. There is a ball but everything is so different from the original story that this retelling is so unique on its own. Although, all the elements of a Cinderella story are there. Prince Kai has his own issues to deal with. His father is sick with the plague and a Queen wants to make an alliance with him. There is a good amount of politics and manipulation that goes on in his side of the story. Prince Kai is definitely charming. I think he needs to be a bit stronger of a character. He is learning how to run a country and I understand that. He is a bit young and naive like most young apprentice rulers are; I just hope he becomes more confident and strong as the books progress. And I’m sure he will be. Not ganna lie, I am a “judge a book by the cover” person. Which can be a good and bad thing. This is one of those stories where the plot has great potential and you can see that before you read it. The cover art is also just lovely and really captures the eye. I was like “What is this?!?!?!?!” Combining the summery and the cover and you got a trap for a reader. Which can be scary because most of the time it does not meet up to the expectations of the reader at all. But this book surpassed my expectations. I had put off reading it because I was afraid it would suck. But it turns out to now be one of my absolute favorite stories I have ever read. SO, WE HAVE A WINNER! If you are a Sailor Moon fan this book is also for you! There are some loose similarities between Sailor Moon and Cinder and after googling, it I did in fact find Meyer was in love with the Sailor Moon series. Marissa Meyer even says she was inspired by her when writing Cinder! Cinder is also rumored to become a movie SO I am really excited and keeping my fingers crossed! If you like the combination of drama, romance, secrets, and adventure, you have to read Cinder! It is one of my favorite retellings! Actually, it is because of this book I even LIKE retellings! It’s the first one I have read that I actually have been interested in! this book proves retellings can be good and fun to read! Go to the store and get this book! Marissa Meyer Answering Questions on Her Books Marissa Meyer on Cinder, writing, and leading men…. Which of your characters is most like you? I wish I could say that I'm clever and mechanically-minded like Cinder, but no--I can't fix anything. I'm much more like Cress, who makes a brief cameo in Cinder and then takes a more starring role in the third book. She's a romantic and a daydreamer and maybe a little on the naïve side--things that could be said about me too--although she does find courage when it's needed most. I think we'd all like to believe we'd have that same inner strength if we ever needed it. Where do you write? I have a home office that I've decorated with vintage fairy tale treasures that I've collected (my favorite is a Cinderella cookie jar from the forties) and NaNoWriMo posters, but sometimes writing there starts to feel too much like work. On those days I'll write in bed or take my laptop out for coffee or lunch. If you were stranded on a desert island, which character from Cinder would you want with you? Cinder, definitely! She has an internet connection in her brain, complete with the ability to send and receive comms (which are similar to e-mails). We'd just have enough time to enjoy some fresh coconut before we were rescued. The next book in the Lunar Chronicles is called Scarlet, and is about Little Red Riding Hood. What is appealing to you most about this character as you work on the book? Scarlet is awesome--she's very independent, a bit temperamental, and has an outspokenness that tends to get her in trouble sometimes. She was raised by her grandmother, an ex-military pilot who now owns a small farm in southern France, who not only taught Scarlet how to fly a spaceship and shoot a gun, but also to have a healthy respect and appreciation for nature. I guess that's a lot of things that appeal to me about her, but she's been a really fun character to write! (The two leading men in Scarlet, Wolf and Captain Thorne, aren't half bad either.)

Cinder is an imaginative re-telling of Cinderella told in post-apocalyptic China {or New Beijing}. Now, before I lose all of you hardcore fairytale fans who shake their heads at re-tellings, let me tell you one thing. Cinder is very loosely based on the fairytale. I know there's a lot of re-tellings where they basically just take the story and add different bits and pieces, but Cinder is not like that at all. Sure, there's Cinderella, whose lost her father, and is basically a servant in her household. And of course, there's Prince Charming and a ball involved, but other than that, there's not much similarities. If it weren't for the cover and the title, it might actually take a little while before you realize that this is a retelling of Cinderella. I loved the characters in it! And I must say that Peony is a wonderful name! They're my favorite flowers! Anyway, I liked how Cinder had at least one human friend in the world, rather than a ton of adoring animals and every human hates her. Her relationship with her sister is so precious. I also had quite a time imagining what Iko might have looked like. The descriptions were just so vague, and it was quite fun and humorous to imagine what a white bulbous-headed android looked like. The doctor dude seemed a little sketchy to me at first. Did anyone else feel like that? He was just so obnoxious when the chapters were in his perspective, and it annoyed me. But then, when Cinder came into his office, he was sweet as cherry pie. I don't really understand, but at least I didn't want to slap him throughout the whole book! And Kai. Oh, Kai. I just loved him. He's so wonderful and ahhh. You might think I'm crazy, but I love a good villain who I just hate with a burning passion. That means that the author/writer/director has done their job and done it well! Queen Levana just made me want to slap her face off every time she showed {or didn't} it! Ugh, she makes me mad! Okay, let's just talk about this world. Oh my god, this world. The story world was so amazing and imaginative. I've seen/read many sci-fis, and I've seen/read many stories of Cinderella, but somehow, Marissa manages to keep it fresh, satisfying, and intriguing. I mean, seriously? Futuristic China complete with robots, hovers, and a awesome zombie-ish plague!? Oh, wait there's more. There's also a kingdom on the moon, you guys! Pick this book up now, I say! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next! I will say that there was an issue of predictability for me. In one possibly major area. There were a lot of twists and turns that I definitely did not see coming, and that was refreshing for the slam of predictability there was. I hate it when I do that, but somehow, I always predict the ending and it's awful. And I hate when I'm right. Ugh. One other thing that I didn't care for was the prejudice against cyborgs. I mean, come on! She's a cyborg, so what? There are people who fricken LIVE ON THE MOON! AND THEY'RE RULING YOU! What's wrong with a little cyborg? Especially Kai. Ugh, I hate how unforgiving he was in that aspect -.- CYBORGS ARE PEOPLE TOO YOU KNOW! Other than that, I loved Cinder! It was almost all my favorite things in one place. Sci-fi, fantasy, zombie kinda action going on. Ugh, I loved it! Marissa took so many things that are over-used and worn-out and meshed them together, creating a fresh new world. I can't wait to read the next book! If she can come up with this from Cinderella, imagine what she can come up with from Little Red Riding Hood! ARE YOU IMAGINING!? Cover Love Ah, this cover! I love the gothic font too much. I never really like fonts like that, but it just fits! I also love the red shoe that just stands out and is born to be on the cover of a Cinderella book. I also love how the bionic leg is just visible through the skin.

Despite being based on one of the most famous romantic fairy tales of all time, Cinder by Marissa Meyer proves to be a fresh and exciting read for readers of all sorts. I love to read, but I'm a slow reader and a reader that needs real excitement in order to finish a book. That said, I'm happy to report that I finished this book in two days. This means, I REALLY liked it. Cinder starts off quickly and the easy, swift pacing is held throughout the book. I'm also not usually a fan of sci-fi stories, finding them hard to relate to and get lost in, but Meyer does a fantastic job of creating a vivid reality of Cinder's world while still keeping the book easy to follow and absorb. What's more, the author seems to make Cinder's world so real by creating unique technology that is still easy for us to relate to. For example, in Cinder's world they rely on "portscreens" and "netscreens" for communication, news, etc. I found it realistic and easy to imagine these things as future advancements on tablet computers and our modern flatscreen TVs and computers. It's very easy to see Cinder's life in New Beijing as a very realistic possibility for earth's future. This makes the sci-fi aspect of the book easier to handle for folks like me, who usually are lost in sci-fi fantasy. Cinder's story is very much like the classic Cinderella in many ways, she has an evil stepmother who keeps her as a slave, two stepsisters, and an uncertain past. When her paths cross with Prince Kai, Cinder is thrust into an unlikely romance. I have read a few reviews here that criticize the ease and "love at first sight" quality to Kai's attraction to Cinder. To this I have to say, come on, this is the retelling of a fairy tale! It's supposed to be "love at first sight" and "true love", and the reader should be expecting this. Much to my pleasant surprise, while Kai is immediately smitten with Cinder, she--on the other hand--does NOT turn into some swoony, pathetic girl in love with the handsome prince (I'm talking to you, Bella Swan). Thank you, Marissa Meyer! Too many heroines of the popular young adult novels feature whiny, weak girls for young readers to look up to. While Kai is the charming, strong hero I look for in a romantic book, Cinder is refreshingly intellectual and thoughtful. I think many teen readers will enjoy and relate to the character of Cinder because, despite being cyborg (human with artificial body parts), she is a very real character to read. She is teased and mocked by her enemies because of her artificial body parts, and seeing how so many teens (and adults, too) struggle with self-image, I think Cinder is a heroine MANY will so easily relate to. She struggles to love herself at times, because of her cyborg parts and her downfalls, but when it really counts Cinder stands up for herself. I love this! The pacing throughout all 38 chapters is swift and kept me unable to put my Kindle down until I finished this story, so readers in need of excitement and romance will definitely be happy with this read. Cinder's story is full of a few surprises and twists, though it also has a few non-surprises, at the end we are left with a cliffhanger. This is one difference from the classic Cinderella story. Cinder's first book does not leave us with a "happily ever after" complete with a bow. Instead, we are still hopeful for that "happily ever after", but it's obvious there is more in store for Cinder and Kai before that is even possible. This was fine by me, however, seeing as I rushed through the book so quickly, I'm excited to read more of what happens to Cinder and Kai and I'm hoping Meyer can deliver as well as she did with this first book! Finally, as a mother of two young daughters, I'm very happy to say that this book gets the mom seal of approval from me! Cinder is not without it's dark and intense moments, but Meyer respectfully wrote a clean (I'm talking language and intimacy) book that I would definitely share with a reader even as young as 10. Too many young adult books have been showing up on shelves lately, full of cursing and promiscuity. It's nice to see an author finally show her talent without trying to sellout to what the publishing world seems to THINK teens want/need in a book. Which reminds me, the writing was clear, concise, and impressive. I would compare it to the style of Suzanne Collins of the famous Hunger Games books. Meyer clearly has talent. I would absolutely recommend this fresh new novel to the young readers, AND adult readers who are interested in any mixture of adventure, fairy tales, sci-fi, and romanticism. I think it's a fun, fascinating read, and it kept me on edge for most of the book. I'm very much looking forward to the release of Meyer's next book--let's hope it doesn't take too long!

I must admit, I had second thoughts about reading this book. A cybernetic Cinderella? New Beijing? Moon people? Deadly plague? They seemed like interesting concepts for different books, not one. Eventually, I decided to give Cinder a try...I have never regretted anything more in my life. Eh, maybe I have, but that's besides the point. I really really really shouldn't have put this book off for so long. It was incredible and I waited a good year before reading it! Bad, bad, bad me. This book was simply incredible. I have to give props to Marissa Meyer for her originality and ability to create such an intriguing and thrilling world. After all, it's not just anyone who can make a cyborg Cinderella in a dystopia New Beijing work. The story has an overall dark feel to it, like most dystopian novels, but definitely stands out above other fairy-tale retellings, and novels in general, for it's outstanding writing and character development. Meyer was also able to create such a believable and entertaining sci-fi dystopian world while still incorporating the key fairy-tale elements from the original Cinderella. Cinder is a mechanic, and treated with disdain and worthlessness from her stepmother and older stepsister due to her being cyborg. The only person who appreciates and loves her, is Peony, her younger stepsister. One day, Prince Kai seeks Cinder's assistance in fixing his android...hence, the beginning of a beautiful relationship. *smirks* During this time, the Commonwealth is suffering from an incurable disease called Letumosis, but more aptly known as the Plague. After the Emperor dies, Prince Kai is left with ruling the country and dealing with the one person who may have a cure for the Plague...the infamous Lunar queen, Levana. Hell yeah, the plot is stupendous! I will snuggle every single one of these characters. Iko is the best robot sidekick, since Marvin from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! I find her ironically hilarious if such a term exists. I loooooove robots that have human personalities; it makes absolutely no logical sense and therefore, cracks me up until I'm breathless. Cinder is astounding. She's such a complex character. I love how she's such an intriguing and strong female protagonist, and is both compassionate, despite being unable to cry or blush due to cyborg programming, and indifferent. Kai, her prince charming you can't help but falling in love with either. Let's face it, they're perfect for each other! (view spoiler) Kai tilted his head, peering at her as if he could see right through to the metal plate in her head..."I think you should go to the ball with me." She clutched her fingers..."Stars," she muttered. "Didn't you already asked me that?" "I'm hoping for a more favorable answer this time and I seem to be getting more desperate by the minute." "How charming." Kai's lips twitched. "Please?" "Why?" "Why not?" "I mean, why me?" Kai hooked his thumbs on his pockets. "So if my escape hover breaks down, I'll have someone to fix it?” The antagonist, Queen Levana is...well, to put it bluntly I hate her. And that's exactly what I want to feel for my antagonists! I don't like my villains to be misunderstood or not so bad; I like them to be bloodthirsty, egoistic savages. Marissa Meyer did her job well. I'm really looking forward to read the prequel on Levana, Fairest. Oh stars, the cliffhanger! I'm not going to lie, the plot twist was quite predictable, but the last few chapters! Ah, my heart can't withstand this anxiousness for the sequel! The ending was done so well and left me staring at those last few sentences wishing that somehow the sequel would magically appear after them. Why would you do this to us Marissa Meyer! Why?!? How dare you make us for Scarlet! I need Scarlet, now! Cinder is undoubtedly the best fairy-tale retelling I've ever read, and one of the best young adult novels my eyes have ever seen. Don't hesitate to read it like I did!

I'm always on the lookout for new books to read and recently, a friend mentioned she was reading this book. I was instantly attracted to the cover and curious as to what the book is about. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like it because I don't read a lot of science fiction/fantasy novels and usually prefer contemporary romance, contemporary fiction, and historical fiction. However, I decided to take the plunge and try a different genre of books so I don't get bored with one genre too easily. Little did I know it would be a decision that would get me interested in another genre! Cinder is Marissa Meyer's first novel and tells the story of 16-year-old Cinder, a mechanic who also happens to be a cyborg. For anyone who is unaware (I had to look this up myself), a cyborg is someone who has both human and mechanical elements (e.g. Darth Vader, Iron Man, and Terminator). Cinder lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters since she has no other family. She knows how to fix androids, portscreens, and all kinds of computer parts and is well-known in New Beijing. She is at the market one day, manning her stepmother's booth when who should walk in but Prince Kai, heir to the throne. What starts out as a normal day for Cinder will end up being the end of life as she knows it and the beginning of something she could never have imagined. Cinder is book one of the Lunar Chronicles, a four-part series, and is considered Young Adult sci-fi/fantasy. When I first started reading it, I immediately thought of Cinderella and Star Wars because of the androids, futuristic setting, and fairy tale elements. I had no trouble picturing the city of New Beijing because of Marissa Meyer's detailed descriptions and I loved the unique combination of a fairy tale with science fiction. This novel takes the story of Cinderella as we know it and adds a science fiction twist to it, along with a healthy dose of sarcasm, which I very much appreciated! I don't read a lot of YA novels but Cinder ended up being a fantastic choice for me because it also has some understated romance. I don't mind the romances I typically read but it's nice to get away from it a little bit too. I feel the romance in this book is very clean and appropriate for young readers. My kids are almost four and nowhere near reading this but I would definitely allow them to read this book and I'm a very cautious mom. For anyone who is curious, there is no swearing in this book and the language is all very appropriate. Overall, I'm so happy I decided to read this book because I really enjoyed it. I'm in my mid-30s and I loved this book which is saying something! I already have the second book Scarlet and plan to start that one soon. As I read this book, I couldn't believe this was Marissa Meyer's first novel because it is incredibly well-written, the story is intriguing and I didn't find one grammar or editorial error (I was an English Lit major so I always notice those kinds of things!). Those factors just added to my delight of this novel and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series. I don't know about the Kindle version but the paperback version I purchased has a question and answer section from the author about her ideas for Cinder and I found that interesting as well. If you are even a tad bit curious about Cinder, I highly encourage you to buy it. I also have an interest in fairy tales and Star Wars which helped cement my decision to buy Cinder. If you are interested in either or both of those as well, I would definitely give this book a chance. I plan to buy the entire series and save them for when my kids are older in hopes they will enjoy them too!

This morning I'm sitting here thinking about Cinder wondering what I could possibly say about this book that another review hasn't. Everyone loves this book. There are so many reviews and posts about this series that gush about the amazing Lunar Chronicles Series. I don't disagree with those people that this series looks like its going to be amazing and I really enjoyed the book. However, like so many books, the hype is so extremely positive and its hard for a book to live up to it. I really enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the hype made me think I would. Before I make it seem like I didn't enjoy this, let's jump into all the things I did love about this book. Cinder is an independent and really self-reliant character who has no problem speaking her mind or working for what she wants. I absolutely loved her. She won me over really quickly with her stubbornness and determination to get things done herself. It was also really nice for me to swoon over a love interest more than a main character. Prince Kai was a really fun character and I loved their quick witty banter throughout the book. Meyer created a complex world around her main character. The writing is simple, but really effective at introducing the reader to the world and characters. I loved her futuristic spin for Earth and the Lunars are really interesting. I am curious to see more of the history of this high-tech world and the Lunars. The human/cyborg/android dynamic is really interesting and consistent throughout the book. Because the next two books are already out, I caught glimpses of things I'm sure are going to be important later on. Overall Meyer has a very engaging writing style and I am hooked on this series. Because this is a fairytale retelling, it is predictable which bothered me a lot more while I was reading than it does now. Meyers built such a good foundation for her series with this book. I was thoroughly impressed with the elements of Cinderella that she used and how she shaped them within her own story. Even if you didn't know that fairytale, this story can stand by itself. I can't pin point one thing that disappointed me about this book. I just didn't love it wholeheartedly. By the end of the novel, I was completely absorbed by Cinder and the story but the first half didn't capture me as much. I'm excited for the sequel and have heard things only get better from here so I'll pick up Scarlet soon to see how it goes for me. So overall I don't have much to add to this discussion. I really enjoyed this story and would encourage people who have trouble at the beginning to keep going and give the story a chance to ramp up. Cinder's adventure is amazing and I'm invested so now I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment!

Why, WHY did I wait so long to read CINDER??? Because I can't for the life of me figure it out!! Now, just knowing how amazing it was, and that I was denying myself the pleasure of this amazing book, just depress me! I was enchanted by this book. I listened to almost the whole thing on audio, and believe me when I say, not only did the actual story amazed me, and the characters, and the plot line, but the narrator was amazinggggg, absolutely stunning!! She was so enticing, preforming like a painter, painting vivid visions in my mind with her alluring voice, and descriptive detail! Every character that came into the story took a new breath of life. She was able to preform and execute each character with their own voice that fitted with that character. And it allowed me to feel more attached to the characters (If it was even possible to become anymore attached then I already was) I just loved her story telling and audio performance, and I look forward to listening to SCARLET and CRESS from her voice on audio. CINDER was just EPIC!!! Truly original and heart-throbbingly painful! It had parts where I was in awe in a hazy dream-scape of the sweet bliss and romance attempts. And parts where I wanted to bury my face in embarrassment, like the things happening to Cinder were happening to me. Like I was that connected to the book and the characters. Then there were parts where I wanted to scream!! Scream at some of the things that were happening. And I loved that I could see some of the original Cinderella story in CINDER. It was like a remix of Cinderella with plenty of original elements, but stuck to the roots of the original fairytale. THE PLOT... The world as we know it has changed. Scientific breakthroughs have gone through the roof with discoveries that have changed the world. Scientist have been able to do the unthinkable. They have been able to give seriously injured or near dead people a second chance at life. Only downfall? You're not all human, anymore...You'll become a, Cyborg!!! Cinder is one of the lucky to have been given a second chance at life. Or cursed, depending on how you look at it. But either way she was given a second chance at life after a terrible incident occurred. She is now half-human & half machine. She is Cyborg!!! AND THIS IS HER STORY!!! Cinder lives her life shunned by society, looked-down upon for being a Cyborg, because of what she is, not who she is. And if that isn't enough, she has a terrible stepmother and stepsister that treat her like a floor-mat, stepped upon when they please. Luckily one of Cinder's two stepsisters is not like that. She treats Cinder like an equal, like a real sister should. And then there's Cinder's only real friend, and she's not even human either. She's an android. All machine programed to do what they're owner wants, but is still able to have a personality chip installed, and have some of the same characteristic traits as a human would. That is Cinder's family circle. A devil of a stepmother, a hater of stepsister, a stepsister who loves her, but won't speak up for her, and a android of a friend, Oh, and a stepfather who died. That's it, welcome to Cinder's world! Cinder fills her days slaving as a mechanic in the New Beijing's market. Fixing androids and electrics to make money that she'll never see. Forced to immediately hand it over to her evil guardian. Well owner, because that's what she is. Her stepmother Adri owns Cinder, as does everyone else who has a Cyborg in they're home. Looked-down upon like they're an alien race. No good for nothing but serving their guardians. And that is what Cinder is, nothing! Worthless of anything... Until one day, it all changes... Everything Cinder has ever known is about to be questioned. Out of nowhere the prince walks into her life and her heart. There's an evil queen from another plant called Luna, that's hell bent on ending their world. Killing them or turning them into mindless slaves to obtain power and control to become the ruler of their plant. And there's a plague that's sweeping through the kingdom, killing off the citizens and claiming lives no matter the cost. And on top of that, Cinder has to fight her undying affections she's feeling for the prince. Because if he ever knew what she was, he would be repulsed, disgusted by what she really is. More questions are arising then answers, but as Cinder starts to dig deeper, she starts to realize that she might just matter more then she thought, and she may be the last hope their world has, if only she can make it out, alive! Overall, CINDER was an alluringly captivating, truly enchanting, massively impressive, mastermind of a book, that I will devour over and over again!

Cinder is a damn good android mechanic. In fact, she’s the best. So when Prince Kai stops by her booth asking her to repair his bot, she’s a little surprised. It’s dark times in New Beijing, the Emperor has taken ill and the city is falling deeper into plague times with more people dying every day and no cure in sight. In a time of political unrest and disease, what difference can one barely human mechanic make? As Cinder works with Kai and the palace doctors, she uncovers things about herself that could change everything if only no one kills her first. Alright guys, I’mma level with you: I didn’t love this book. I liked it, but it had such a cool premise that I was disappointed I didn’t end up loving it. Mayer cites Sailor Moon as an influence for this series and it’s loosely based on different Disney princess characters so it had the making to be truly epic in my opinion and for some reason, I just wasn’t that into it. Now, it could be that I was distracted while reading this novel and that happens sometimes. But I found my attention wandering while reading it and I often stopped and started reading during the few days it took me to get through the book and I think it’s because I wasn’t really engaged. The world was definitely interesting. I loved the whole New Beijing setting and the post apocalyptic feel to it with hints of science fiction woven in. It was unique and intriguing and the world in this series is absolutely one of the best parts of the book for me. The landscape, both political and physical, is described with such clarity that I could picture myself walking through the market stalls and junkyards easily and overall, the detail and the imagery was very, very cool. Where this novel really failed me was with the characters. I didn’t really care about Cinder. She was brash, self-deprecating, hard-working, and resilient, but I didn’t actually connect emotionally with her. I don’t know if that’s part of her story since she’s part machine, but her character never really moved me. The closest I came to really feeling anything for her was seeing her relationship with her sister, which I found honestly touching and I wish we would have seen more of it. Prince Kai is also flat to me. He’s clever, a little flirtatious, and has the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he’s mainly surface material. We don’t get much else from his character and I would have liked to see him explored in a little more depth. I did like the way Mayer sets him up almost as two different characters– the runaway prince and the burdened leader, but again, there was little in the way of emotional connection for me with regard to his character. My favorite character was probably Dr. Erland, the palace doctor who’s trying so desperately to find a cure. His backstory was interesting and surprising and I enjoyed his character simply because he was so darn likable and had a genuine interest in Cinder’s safety and well-being. I didn’t really see too much of the relationship between Cinder and Kai and it has little time to really develop as it takes a backseat to the story and I loved that it wasn’t really the central focus of the novel. Kai is intrigued by Cinder, but he doesn’t spend all his time thinking about her and pining for her which is good because he has a country to run. Likewise, she thinks he’s cute and wants him to like her, but she’s not desperate for his attention or willing to sacrifice things about herself and her values in order to get it. I think this relationship will develop nicely over the next few novels, but aside from smiling a little at their interactions, I had no real investment in them during this book. I don’t consider this a failing on the novel’s part at all and I rather enjoyed their slower start. I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Overall, this book has a really cool premise with a lot of potential. The world will keep you interested and the action, when it gets going, very much keeps going and you’re moving through the novel at a steady, consistent place. There was enough tension and conflict to sustain my interest, but the characters don’t resonate with me for some reason. I’ll continue reading because I really do enjoy the story and I want to see what happens next and I think Cinder and Kai will definitely be explored more in the following books, although they’ll share the story with new main characters, and really, I’m just curious about where this is all going. The idea of space princesses and evil queens and fairytale references really appeals to me. I just wish I cared a little more about the characters. I think this is a book you’ll have to read for yourself to decide, as most of my friends enjoyed the series and I seem to be in the minority. But if you like fairytale science fiction, definitely give this a shot.