[Review] Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: January 2012
ISBN: 9780312641894
Pages: 390



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.

The screw through Cinder's ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle.

First of all, I didn't know why I ended up reading this book. And such a complicated book, if I may point out. I knew from the very beginning that a story of a cyborg wouldn't be as simple as another Cinderella story. And even though I was confused lots of times, I kept reading it anyway.

This story takes place in 126 years after the World War IV ended, in a kingdom named New Beijing, a replacement of China, I guess. And there are 5 other countries beside New Beijing that still exist on earth. Not only that, but there is another country which takes place on the moon. Yes, the moon. Apparently we can live on the moon too in this era. But humans and the moon residents are not the same creature. The moon residents are called Lunar (lunar is another word for the moon) and they have abilities that a human cannot do.

Anyway, a war against their own satellite isn't the only problem earthen faces. There is a disease, plague that threatening to kill all human beings on earth. Letumosis. Unknown cause, unknown cure. All earthen researchers were trying so hard to find its cure, but no one yet claims finding it.

Take that aside, Cinder, an orphan cyborg who had adopted into Linh family was surprised when she saw the Prince walked into her booth at the market. Apparently her popularity as the most talented mechanic in New Beijing had reached the Palace as well. And Prince Kaito himself asked her to repair his very-first-ancient tutor android. Her encounter with the Prince didn't end with just that and with her frequent visit to the palace, she began to learn things she would never expect possible. And of course, things she would never expect feel.

"I assume you are going to the ball?"
"I-I don't know. I mean, no. No, I'm sorry, I'm not going to the ball."
Kai drew back, confused. "Oh well... but... maybe you would change your mind? Because I am, you know."
"The prince."
"Not bragging," he said quickly. "Just a fact.”

Well, a cyborg Cinderella, a very intriguing topic for a book. Marissa Meyer had done a wonderful job for bringing a cinderella story into her own with nothing missed. The ball, dances, dress, shoes (or legs), only that cinder has two fairy god mother instead of one and the Prince didn't have to look for his princess. But not like the original Cinderella story, one of her step-sister didn't hate her, Cinder and Phoeny are closer that I thought they would be. She really loved Phoeny, and so did Phoeny.

And there is a Prince Charming, a young Prince, who had to deal with lots and lots of things. His father's death, the Cure, Queen Levana's proposal -Levana, even her name sounds evil-. And adding one person who kept rejecting his invitation to the ball. So many things he should handled.

“My sincerest condolences, Your Highness. In more ways than one, it seems.”

But seriously, he is amazing, with those pressure I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. He had to deal with annoying politics with a greedy Queen, who would want to be in that position? But when he was faced with two difficult choice for his country, what would he choose?

“You have much to learn about politics. I think you will soon discover that it is all about give and take, my dear handsome prince."

There is another thing I want to talk about, but it could be a spoiler, for it's so easy to guess the story after you know this fact. So I'll keep it for the second book’s review.