Cinder is often sought out in the New Beijing marketplace as one of the best mechanics around. One day, she is approached by the handsome Prince Kai to fix a malfunctioning android he can’t get anyone else to fix. Flabbergasted by the Prince’s attention, Cinder listens to the problems all the while trying to hide the fact that she is cyborg.
In New Beijing, androids are the norm and technology encompasses every home. But cyborgs, part human and part machine, are considered second class and unworthy of most people's time. Cinder has always been less than a servant in the house of her "stepmother" and "stepsister." The only one that treats her with any kindness is her stepsister, Pearl, who's sickness Cinder is blamed for.
As Cinder battles her family's disdain and her growing attraction to Prince Kai, Cinder faces an even bigger foe in the Lunars, a sinister people descended from a moon colonization. The Lunars wait, watching Earth, waiting for a moment to attack. These people also possess strange powers, enabling them to make others see what they want them to see and do things they don't want to do. Cinder is quickly drawn into a battle she knows little about. In order to help those she cares for, she must uncover dark secrets about her past.
For years, I have been obsessed with the Cinderella story. My obsession has spanned Disney movies and books and even centering my own wedding around a Cinderella theme. So when I heard of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, I was excited about a new spin on an old favorite. Granted, by her own admission, Meyer took massive liberties with the Cinderella story, but I found it increasingly enjoyable to hunt down the elements of the original story within the new.
This story has more in common with the original fairy tale than I expected. It tells of an orphaned girl living with a cruel stepmother and at least one stepsister, forced her to work as little better than a slave. Meyer also weaves an enchanting tale of a growing attracting between Cinder and handsome Prince Kai. Throughout the story, I marveled at how Cinder grew from a timid girl resigned to her own fate (less than others, looked down upon by many) to a self-assured girl willing the sacrifice herself for the better of others. Don't get me wrong, throughout the story, you see a girl willing to throw jibes and sarcastic comments about in an effort to assert even a little freedom. However, it is not until the end that we see Cinder willing to throw off the shackles that have held her prisoner for so long.
The ending of this book frustrated me if for no other reason than I desperately want to know what happens next. Meyer left the first installment on somewhat of a cliff-hanger, opening several different possible story lines. I was excited to find out that the second book in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet, came out just last week. I will be reading it soon.
The only thing that I found lacking in this story was little plot twists that did not follow the story. I understand that some tragedy was necessary to force Cinder forward in character development; however, small bits of information seemed unnecessary. At one point, Cinder saves the life of a small boy with no real reason as to what this might mean in the long run. A cruel woman's continual resurgence also makes little sense to the advancement of the story line. These little annoyances were not enough to prevent me from giving five stars to this remarkable book. This short novel is one I will be recommending to several of my students.
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