Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) [Kindle Edition]

Marissa Meyer (Author)

Book Description

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.

 

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.)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella.’”—BCCB

 

"This is one buzzed novel that totally delivers." —Stacked Books Blog

 

"I absolutely loved Cinder. Marissa took a well known story and created an amazingly fantastic new twist, making this it an all together new story." —Between the Covers Blog

 

"Cinder is loads of fun—mostly due to seeing a familiar story play out in a new setting, but Cinder herself is also a tough, smart, mouthy, resourceful heroine, so spending almost 400 pages with her is completely enjoyable—and I'm totally, totally looking forward to the next one in the series." —Bookshelves of Doom

 

"Terrific." —Los Angeles Times

 

“Author Marissa Meyer rocks the fractured fairy tale genre with a sci-fi twist on Cinderella.” –The Seattle Times

"Debut author Meyer ingeniously incorporates key elements of the fairy tale into this first series entry." --Horn Book Magazine 

“What they [readers] do not know until they begin turning the pages of this fable-turned-dystopian-science-fiction novel, is that Meyer’s embellishments create a spellbinding story of their own.”–VOYA

"First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer’s brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension. –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Fairy tales are becoming all the rage, with the TV shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm spinning them through a modern filter. The 26-year-old Meyer's debut novel Cinder, though, combines a classic folk tale with hints of The Terminator and Star Wars in the first book of The Lunar Chronicles young-adult series due out Jan. 3.” –USAToday.com

“Cinderella is a cyborg in this futuristic take on the fairy tale, the first book in Ms. Meyer's planned ‘Lunar Chronicles’ series.” –Wall Street Journal, in a round-up called “After Harry Potter: The Search for the Magic Formula”

“…this series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” –Kirkus

“There’s a lot of moving parts in this fresh spin on “Cinderella,” the first in a four-book series.” –Booklist

About the Author

Marissa Meyer was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, home of Almond Roca and Stadium High School, which was made famous when Heath Ledger danced down the stadium steps in 10 Things I Hate About You. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She still lives in Tacoma, now with her husband. Cinder is her YA debut.

Product Details

• File Size: 448 KB
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312641893
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (January 3, 2012)
• Sold by: Macmillan
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KJJ4F8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,688 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #26 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
  • #35 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique retelling of Cinderella in futuristic China-- a must read! January 16, 2013

By Christina (Ensconced in YA) TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was chosen by my blog readers as the most important next book for me to read. Their decision just proved I need to do this more often-- they were more than right.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is about a cyborg, Cinder, who lives in a futuristic China. In a breathtaking and most unique retelling of the Cinderella story, we are introduced to a world of technology and wonder-- in addition to governmental intrigue, and another dominating species, the Lunars. Prince Kai meets our Cinder very early on in the story to ask her help in repairing his android, and it becomes clear that he may have to marry the evil Queen Levana to avoid all out war with the Lunars. While some of the aspects of the story are similar (evil stepmother and a ball), most of it is not, and it enthralled me from start to finish.

Lauren Oliver, the best selling author of the Delirium series, told me in an interview that this was her favorite YA read of the year. I know now why. The world building is terrific and I kept wanting to see more. The characters are very interesting, and the ethical dilemma of what makes a human kept cropping up in subtle but interesting ways. Furthermore, the protagonist was wonderful-- Cinder is probably the antithesis of the typical Cinderella image, but that's part of her charm. I loved that she was a mechanic and that she was down and dirty working on electronics-- that she wasn't the typical heroine.

I wasn't surprised by the big reveal, because hints were placed early on, and I can't still figure out why a certain doctor didn't reveal more earlier on, except as merely a plot device, but that was my only qualm.

Overall, a terrific and unusual retelling of the Cinderella story in futuristic China-- well written with wonderful characters. Meyer is an author to watch.

82 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Beginning to Lunar Chronicles Series December 10, 2011

By Jessica Cave VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Where do I even begin with this book? I went in a little skeptical, unsure if I would really enjoy it or not. Quickly, though, I was sucked in. The first chapter kept me interested and each chapter urged me into the next. It was ridiculously difficult to convince myself to set it down long enough to do anything else. Needless to say, I finished the novel very quickly.

I loved the characters. Cinder was convincing and real. She reacted the way I would have in most situations with which she faced. The choices she had to make were sometimes completely heart-wrenching, but it only enhanced the story. The fact that she is a cyborg really enhanced the story. It was very fun to read and such a fascinating, strange concept that I believed every single word of it. I loved the little descriptions of how she could feel the technology working in her body, sometimes against her human flesh. Another thing I loved about her was the fact that she works hard. This is sometimes hard to find in YA novels, but Cinder really works for what she gets. She doesn't just sit back and complain because her stepmother hates her and makes her work. She's good at what she does and she is just all around awesome.

Cinder's stepsisters and stepmother were, of course, necessary characters, and I think they were done quite well. It was nice to see one of the stepsisters in a kinder light and to see the other stepsister and stepmother both had a degree of humanity in them. They are not one-dimensional, flat, lifeless characters who just hate Cinder for the sake of hatred. While yes, their motives behind the hatred may not be spot on, they are somewhat realistic and understandable. It will be interesting to see how these relationships develop in further stories.

I thought Prince Kai was a great hero. I noticed several other reviewers did not agree with his ability to be so distracted by Cinder despite the utter pandemonium happening in his life, but I do not find myself agreeing at all. I think that even if your life is going crazy and you're unhappy and trying to figure out how to make it to the next day without going insane, you still need something to keep you afloat. For Prince Kai, this something was Cinder. The romance was also believable. I believed every word they said, every hope they dared dream, and every possibility of their togetherness.

I also loved most of the miscellaneous minor plot quirks and secondary characters. I thought that restoring the car was fun, but I did wonder how she managed to learn to drive it. I loved Iko and I hope to see her again (a lot!) in future books. I loved the doctor and Cinder's storage compartment located in her leg and the descriptions of the city. The entire world was really beautiful and alive in my head, which always makes for a pleasant reading experience.

The plot kept me completely entertained the entire time. While the story with the Lunar Queen was a little farfetched and, at times, almost a little silly and unbelievable, it was still interesting. I look forward to seeing how this particular plotline continues in future novels. Queen Levana is quite the formidable foe and I'm excited to see how Cinder knocks her down and picks up the pieces.

To everyone who complained the questions were not answered: This is the first in a four book series! Of course not all the questions were answered! I'm sure questions will be answered later on and, if they are not, then you can go ahead and complain about it.

My best advice? Just read the book! It was great! I can't wait to get my hands on the next novels in the Lunar Chronicles.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Emotions February 2, 2012

By Sharilyn

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Cinder is an occasionally ingenious re-imagining of the familiar Cinderella story. The setting -- New Beijing 123 years after World War IV -- is unapologetically sci-fi and the eponymous heroine is a cyborg with a mysterious past.

Sounds like a fun read, yes?

Er, not so much.

MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW.

The plot is predictable. Cinder's true identity becomes blindingly oblivious on page 44, making the big reveal at the end the epitome of anticlimax.

The author has cheerfully chucked logic out the window. Despite a deadly plague running rampant through the city, the entire population is invited to a ball. Sorry, but I find it difficult to believe that Prince Kaito would risk his life by welcoming the unwashed masses into his palace.

Actually, the entire plague subplot is badly handled. Cinder repeatedly breaks quarantine. Okay, she' subjected to a blood test minutes after being exposed and pronounced "clean", but if that's their idea of infectious disease protocol, no wonder the plague is out of control.

Then again, this is a fairytale, not a manual from the CDC, so maybe I should cut Marissa Meyer some slack. After all, she is very good at tweaking aspects of the traditional story. For example, instead of a glass slipper, Cinder has a too-small mechanical foot.

I really liked Cinder. As a cyborg, she's literally a non-person, but she doesn't need a fairy godmother to smooth her way.

Unfortunately, the author chose to infect both Cinder and the prince with insta-love. After just one brief meeting, Cinder runs in and out of the palace unannounced, yet somehow Kaito always has time for her. I just didn't buy their romance.

Cinder is the first of four volumes in the Lunar Chronicles. While it's a clever enough conceit to fuel one book, I think the novelty would quickly wear thin and I feel no urge to stick around to see if Cinder and her prince live happily ever after.

More About the Author

Marissa Meyer lives near Seattle with her husband and their three cats. She's a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf...) and will take any excuse to put on a costume. She may or may not be a cyborg.

Follow her blog or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissameyer.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#65 in Books > Teens

#65 in Books > Teens