Title: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 390
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Source: Owned Print
Rating: A
Review: This is one of those books that everyone has been talking about for eons and I LOVE the cover AND it’s YA AND it’s been near the top of my TBR for way too long AND I own it (and the following two!), but…I kept passing it over. Do I have any idea why? Hmmm. Maybe it was the hype. Maybe it was the whole cyborg thing because that tends to be an area of sci fi I haven’t really gotten into (at least not in my reading life…tv and movies? Bring it!). Who knows. But I nominated it for this month’s book club selection and when it got selected – it was time.
And it was GREAT! This is one of those books that probably hovers somewhere between teen and “younger” young adult. The whole YA thing is such a gray area, isn’t it? Anyway, there is nothing racy or gory in it, not even a little sexual innuendo, and violence is discussed and threatened but not portrayed. Who knows if that will continue as the series enters darker territory, but in this first book, it’s all good in the neighborhood. I’d easily let my 10 year old read it (if any of my kids were 10). 😉
Anyway, I was nervous about the whole twist on the Cinderella story thing, but it worked. Really, Meyer did a wonderful job of incorporating the key components without feeling at all cheesy or plagiarismy. Her approach was extremely imaginative and original, and I really enjoyed it.
The characters were well developed as was the world building. Within the first chapter, I was totally committed. The future romance is brewing, the narrative is compelling, and I care without feeling emotionally overwrought.
Overall, an easy and quick read with plenty of twists and turns (even if I often saw them coming), very entertaining, and almost a little addicting (as in I will absolutely read the next one this year, probably even next month, but not necessarily immediately). Definitely glad I read it and looking forward to Scarlet.