Basics:
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release date: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
ISBN: 9780312641894
Number of pages: 387
Genre: Young adult, Romance, Sci-Fi, Dystopian
What's special?: futuristic adaption of Cinderella as a cyborg
(Cinderella → Cinder! I honestly didn't notice it at first but in my defence:
I'm German so I haven't really used the name 'Cinderella'. We say 'Aschenputtel'
There's a movie with a gorgeous actress! I love it.)
Summary:
There's just so much going on in this book, it's hard to
summarize it actually!
Cinder is a 16 year old mechanic, inhabitant of New-Beijing – and a cyborg which means that she's partly robot. Awesome, right? Well, guess again. Being a cyborg – or not human in general – means having not the same rights as the „normal citizen“. Androids are considered as servants or even pets!
Anyway, Cinder's living with her stepmother Adri and her two stepsisters Pearl and Peony in the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. Yep, you've read that right. Eastern Commonwealth. The story takes place 126 years after World War IV and our world is now divided into seven kingdoms.
The regent of the Eastern Commonwealth is Emperor Rikan and even though emperor and kingdom sounds pretty ancient – it's not! This world has androids, cyborgs, ID-chips and hovercars.
The novel starts with a pretty normal day in Cinder's life – well, maybe not that normal.
The reason: One of her customers is none other than crown prince Kaito, in disguise, of course.
Let me tell you: I have a weak spot for Asian men and oh boy, he fits that role well.
He hires her to fix his old android.
After their first meeting at the market, they meet each other from time to time and they get to know each other better.
This alone would have been a nice plot for a new adaption of Cinderella – but guess what! There's more!
Humans now know for sure that they're not alone in the universe. There is a nation called the Lunar who is living on the moon, has powers to manipulate one's perception and aren't friendly at all. To make things worse: Their queen wants to mary prince Kai. If not...she will declare war on the humans.
Cinder is a 16 year old mechanic, inhabitant of New-Beijing – and a cyborg which means that she's partly robot. Awesome, right? Well, guess again. Being a cyborg – or not human in general – means having not the same rights as the „normal citizen“. Androids are considered as servants or even pets!
Anyway, Cinder's living with her stepmother Adri and her two stepsisters Pearl and Peony in the capital of the Eastern Commonwealth. Yep, you've read that right. Eastern Commonwealth. The story takes place 126 years after World War IV and our world is now divided into seven kingdoms.
The regent of the Eastern Commonwealth is Emperor Rikan and even though emperor and kingdom sounds pretty ancient – it's not! This world has androids, cyborgs, ID-chips and hovercars.
The novel starts with a pretty normal day in Cinder's life – well, maybe not that normal.
The reason: One of her customers is none other than crown prince Kaito, in disguise, of course.
Let me tell you: I have a weak spot for Asian men and oh boy, he fits that role well.
He hires her to fix his old android.
After their first meeting at the market, they meet each other from time to time and they get to know each other better.
This alone would have been a nice plot for a new adaption of Cinderella – but guess what! There's more!
Humans now know for sure that they're not alone in the universe. There is a nation called the Lunar who is living on the moon, has powers to manipulate one's perception and aren't friendly at all. To make things worse: Their queen wants to mary prince Kai. If not...she will declare war on the humans.
Until
now emperor Rikan could stall her but suddenly he falls sick with
Letumosis, an incurable disease, which has killed more people than we
can count, and Levana urges for the alliance.
And
Peony, too, Cinder's stepsister, who is her only human friend, falls
ill with Letumosis.
Adri, her stepmother, puts the blame on Cinder and forces her to take part in experiments organized by the imperial laboratory. They always search Cyborg-Volunteers who accept death for the greater good.
Adri, her stepmother, puts the blame on Cinder and forces her to take part in experiments organized by the imperial laboratory. They always search Cyborg-Volunteers who accept death for the greater good.
And
there, the scientists make an unbelievable discovery...
My opinion:
A
futuristic adaption of Cinderella as a cyborg? Pretty risky to write!
But the author Marissa Meyers did a really good job! Of course the
book doesn't follow the real fairytale entirely but that would have
been a bit boring. We would already know everything, wouldn't we?
The writing style is fluent and easy to read and the fairytale-elements were wrapped wonderfully in the new surroundings. Sometimes I had to think about some scenes to connect them to the original story but I was even happier when I finally got it!
One of the only things I disliked was the forshadowing. I knew, like, from page 30 what the big secret will be that is revealed at the end.
But that didn't hinder the fun while reading and the goosebumps at the end! It was pretty satisfying to know the ropes even earlier than the characters!Speaking of the characters...
Cinder and Kai, the main protagonists, are very well and complexly written.
The writing style is fluent and easy to read and the fairytale-elements were wrapped wonderfully in the new surroundings. Sometimes I had to think about some scenes to connect them to the original story but I was even happier when I finally got it!
One of the only things I disliked was the forshadowing. I knew, like, from page 30 what the big secret will be that is revealed at the end.
But that didn't hinder the fun while reading and the goosebumps at the end! It was pretty satisfying to know the ropes even earlier than the characters!Speaking of the characters...
Cinder and Kai, the main protagonists, are very well and complexly written.
Most
of the time we follow Cinder around but from time to time there's a
chapter with Kai as the protagonist.
They both have their own character and it's easy to distinguish which chapter is Kai's and which is Cinder's. Unlike many a different book. *coughAllegiantcough*.
Cinder shows us the world and the general living conditions of the middle class whereas Kai explains the difficult relationship between the Lunar and the humans.
Therefore we get a good general view of everything. Well done, Marissa Meyer, well done.
Sadly, we don't get that much information on the Lunars. Maybe I skipped some lines but I can't remember reading about their outward appearance. Do they just look like humans?
I still have questions about their culture and royal family as well!
They both have their own character and it's easy to distinguish which chapter is Kai's and which is Cinder's. Unlike many a different book. *coughAllegiantcough*.
Cinder shows us the world and the general living conditions of the middle class whereas Kai explains the difficult relationship between the Lunar and the humans.
Therefore we get a good general view of everything. Well done, Marissa Meyer, well done.
Sadly, we don't get that much information on the Lunars. Maybe I skipped some lines but I can't remember reading about their outward appearance. Do they just look like humans?
I still have questions about their culture and royal family as well!
But it's possible that I can satisfy my
curiosity!
Cinder is only the first book of a series after all!
The second book is called „Scarlet“(published in 2013) and is based on Red Riding Hood. But I was told that Cinder and Kai will appear there, too! Great!
Numer 3 is called „Cress“, was published in 2014 and is based on Rapunzel.
The last book has the title „Winter“ and is set to come out in 2015! It will be a Snow White retelling!
Furthermore, there will be a prequel about Queen Levana's early life called „Fairest“. Can't wait to read it!
I really love the design of the books, they are just awesome. I love drawn covers a lot more than these terrible cheesy "girl-staring-in-the-distance"ones
The book is devided into four parts and every one starts with a short quote from the original fairytale which fits the content of the n part.
Conclusion:
4 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! My mom ordered it about two weeks ago!
Cinder is only the first book of a series after all!
The second book is called „Scarlet“(published in 2013) and is based on Red Riding Hood. But I was told that Cinder and Kai will appear there, too! Great!
Numer 3 is called „Cress“, was published in 2014 and is based on Rapunzel.
The last book has the title „Winter“ and is set to come out in 2015! It will be a Snow White retelling!
Furthermore, there will be a prequel about Queen Levana's early life called „Fairest“. Can't wait to read it!
I really love the design of the books, they are just awesome. I love drawn covers a lot more than these terrible cheesy "girl-staring-in-the-distance"ones
The book is devided into four parts and every one starts with a short quote from the original fairytale which fits the content of the n part.
Conclusion:
4 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! My mom ordered it about two weeks ago!
Here are a few fanarts from Kai, Cinder and Queen Levana!
Art done by lostie815 at DeviantArt.
So pretty!
What is your opinion on Cinder?
Did you like it? Tell me in the comments!:)
Have a wonderful week!
Franzi
Update(November 21st):
Scarlet won't come, like, ever because it. is. not. ordered. My mom messed something up with sending the order. Argh.
So I'll order it again now. Everything you have to do yourself. Haha.
No comments:
Post a Comment