Cinder by Marissa Meye

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


This book has a Cinderella spin - absolutely - but it was nothing like what I was expecting. Like at all.

So how was it like Cinderella? The evil step-mother that is for sure- man, is she a royal pain in the @ss. Sheesh. There were two stepsisters - though one seemed really sweet and was kind to Cinder. There's a hottie for a prince charming - who is kind and loves "kingdom." And then there is Cinder(ella) the girl who works super hard, has no self-confidence. Oh! And there is a ball! I love ball scenes.

How is not like Cinderella? Um, there is a plague. She's a cyborg. There are no mice that make her a dress (sad I know.). Cinder harbors something within her cyborg parts that could help man-kind. But it's not as simple as that. The Queen of the Lunars (people who live on the moon) cause problems for our Cinderella and Prince Charming, a great deal of problems actually - the big one - trying to rule earth.

The relationship between Prince Kai and Cinder is really sweet. Kai is the ideal ruler. He's compassionate, thinks of his people, and being young he's figuring out he has a backbone. He seeks out Cinder's help because his android has malfunctioned and she is the best mechanic. And through a series of events, their paths cross frequently, and you watch two young people lean on each other as they whether the Lunars, the plague, deaths, and secrets.

Overall, a very surprising book that I really enjoyed. It should be put on your to-read book. A must.