Oh, Marissa Meyer… everything about this book… is just outstanding. From the relatable world, especially in current times with a worldwide pandemic, to the not so “realistic” parts such as a people ruled by a cruel queen who has populated the moon and has the ability to control the Earthen’s minds; all of it is so immersible. What do I mean by this? I mean when I open Cinder, book one of the Lunar Chronicles, I lose myself in the post-WWIII Earth alongside Cinder, Iko, Kai, and all of the other amazing and in-depth characters that you get to know and love. While this is not my first time reading this series, I have not read them again in quite some time. So despite knowing ultimately what happens in the end, it has been so long that I have forgotten almost all of the wonderful details that make up the book. For example, I forgot how kick-a** Cinder is, the heartbreak of living in a world infected with an unbiased plague, and how seriously adorable Kai is.
I am a gigantic Disney fan and have watched all of the princess movies an obscene number of times and Cinder exudes the same magic as the legendary tale its bones are based on, Cinderella. (I don’t think this needs a spoiler alert, but just in case any of my readers are not familiar with the much-known tale, SPOILER ALERT!) As told in the fairytale, the orphaned Cinder/Cinderella is abandoned with the only guardian she has left, her wicked and uncaring stepmother. Forced to work while her stepsisters are continuously doted on, she remains a much better person than I would be in that situation and does as she is told. One twist that I loved that gave this story a different path than its original telling is the relationship with Peony, her younger stepsister. As opposed to in the story, Cinder and Peony have a great friendship and they definitely have a sisterly love, a subtle yet big difference from the movie and all of the other remakes due to the effect of this sole decent human relationship she has so far in life. In the post-war world, there is an incurable sickness that has taken over and threatens the lives of all who live on Earth. No one is safe. Not even the Emperor. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention, Cinder is a freaking bad-a** CYBORG. Heck yes.
Anyway, after an adorable meet-cute, you immediately fall in love with another major character in the book, Prince Kaito of the Eastern Commonwealth. Charming, handsome, witty, and genuine, he seeks out the city’s best-known mechanic, who happens to be the headstrong, take-no-shit, smart, loving Linh Cinder. When both of their worlds and responsibilities change, literally, overnight they shove the spark between them to the back of their minds and try to make it through the extreme obstacles in front of them. However, fate has something completely different in mind and lulls them together time and time again because, without each of them realizing it, they are actually on the same path. Complete with a sassy sidekick robot, a slightly crazy doctor, and the fate of the world in their hands, this jumbled cast of characters could not be a more perfect introduction into the world.
Throughout the book, I felt my heart break, then jump for joy, then curl up in trepidation, then bounce me to the end of my seat with the anticipation and inability to read the words fast enough. I wish I could have jumped through the pages many, many times to shake all of the characters and point them in the right direction, or tell them to JUST LISTEN TO WHAT DESTINY IS TELLING YOU! But alas, I had to just wait and watch these realistic and amazing characters make their way through, and dang it was AWESOME. I am super excited for Scarlet, which I will be starting tomorrow! Comment below if you read along and join the forum (Click here) to join the chat all week long as we read along together. Week one of December was great, and I can’t wait for the next…
Top Quotes
“Vanity is a factor, but it is more a question of control. It is easier to trick others into perceiving you as beautiful if you can convince yourself you are beautiful. But mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth.”
“I'm sure I'll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.”
“We have the ability to love each other, no matter our differences. To help each other, no matter our weaknesses.”
Stay awesome and spread the light!
JR Molt
Photo credit: Tara Spruit @taratjah
