Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication date: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Age group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Cover rating: 5/5
Content rating: 5/5
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository

Description via Goodreads:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the 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.

My thoughts:
This is a difficult review to write. I am sitting staring at my screen trying to figure out how to put into words what this book made feel. It was amazing. I wasn't really sure what to expect from Cinder. The reviews were mixed and I don't usually like fairytale retellings. Just not really my kind of thing. But there was no way I could pass up a book with a cover like that! It is so incredibly awesome. I bought this on my Kindle but after reading it, I really want to buy a copy for my shelf too which is something I never do! I didn't want this book to end. Ever.

I actually read the first 3% of this book last week and put it down because I had other stuff I needed to get read. I am seriously kicking myself now for not continuing on at the time! Once I hit about 10%, I was obsessed. I'm not kidding, I actually had to set my Kindle down for a bit because the book had me feeling so hyper and giddy. I was torn between wanting to tear through and devour it, and not being able to handle how amazing it was! I was just truly captivated by the life of this wonderful, strange and strong girl. Cinderella as a cyborg turned out to be a genius idea!

Everything about this new and advanced world fascinated me and I found myself so excited to find out more.    Cinder is such a brilliant protagonist. I found it impossible not to absolutely adore her and it's really easy to empathize with her. She's not treated well by many people at all yet she has such a lovely personality and is just genuinely caring and thoughtful. She's really selfless and really, really knows how to take care of herself. She's direct and tough and I loved it! She's feisty and unique. It's awesome.

How could anyone not think Prince Kai is awesome? You would think he'd just be arrogant and above everyone else but instead, he was witty, kind and just saw himself as a regular person. A little bit cocky, sure, but in a light-hearted and playful way. Every scene with him in it is just hilarious and laugh-out-loud funny. Cinder and Kai interact so well together and it's sort of heartbreaking to see Cinder trying so hard to keep her secrets from him for fear of scaring him away!

I loved Cinder's doctor, too! He was just fun and a really interesting guy. I actually just loved all the characters, really. This book was so, so entertaining to read. I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh so much. A lot of people have made the point that this book is predictable. Despite my five star rating and gushing review, I agree with them. I was probably only about 40% into the book when I figured out two of the ''big reveals'' but as other people have also said, it just doesn't matter. It doesn't detract from the story at all. A little mystery would have been nice, I suppose, but as it is, the predictable element wasn't bothersome for me.

Clearly, I adored Cinder. If you haven't read it yet, you should! If you have read it, I guess I'm joining you on the long, long wait for book two. Sometime in 2013? And the series won't be finished until 2015? I can't wait!