CINDER by Marissa Meyer
4 Stars
Verdict: A quick and quirky retelling.
Ever thought to yourself, what if Cinderella was a cyborg in futuristic Beijing at the brink of war against the moon? Probably not, and no one else has either because this book is an undeniably original retelling with lots of quirks. While it might not explore its concepts in much depth, it’s a lighthearted read with a pace that doesn’t have time for yawns.
The writing is smooth, quick, entertaining; a perfect fit for Cinder’s snarky attitude. I liked the banter between Kai and Cinder, both as snarky as each other…although I’m not sold on the romance of this book. Kai felt pushy at times and the chemistry disappeared once Cinder made it clear where she stood. I think I’d have liked the author to handle the situation with more depth so that it felt less like pressurising and more like a puzzle Kai was trying to solve.
A few of the plot’s flaws actually felt more like strengths when reading it. The main twists are entirely guessable, so it becomes more about when the secrets will come out over what they’ll be. It didn’t stick too closely to Cinderella, but the structure of the well-known tale lingers in the back of your mind whilst reading, having you wonder how it will all come together.
There is more Q&A than should really be in a book of its size and complexity, and the story could have moved along further if the characters would just spit it out. I guess I never understood what was wrong with being a cyborg in the first place, or why the doctor didn’t just tell Cinder what was going on. Instead of moving forwards, the story tending to circle round the same bits of tension. I felt like the book could have dove deeper, fleshed out the lunar world or even just the cyborg society just that little bit more.
All in all, it’s got that readable quality.
4 Stars
Verdict: A quick and quirky retelling.
Ever thought to yourself, what if Cinderella was a cyborg in futuristic Beijing at the brink of war against the moon? Probably not, and no one else has either because this book is an undeniably original retelling with lots of quirks. While it might not explore its concepts in much depth, it’s a lighthearted read with a pace that doesn’t have time for yawns.
The writing is smooth, quick, entertaining; a perfect fit for Cinder’s snarky attitude. I liked the banter between Kai and Cinder, both as snarky as each other…although I’m not sold on the romance of this book. Kai felt pushy at times and the chemistry disappeared once Cinder made it clear where she stood. I think I’d have liked the author to handle the situation with more depth so that it felt less like pressurising and more like a puzzle Kai was trying to solve.
A few of the plot’s flaws actually felt more like strengths when reading it. The main twists are entirely guessable, so it becomes more about when the secrets will come out over what they’ll be. It didn’t stick too closely to Cinderella, but the structure of the well-known tale lingers in the back of your mind whilst reading, having you wonder how it will all come together.
There is more Q&A than should really be in a book of its size and complexity, and the story could have moved along further if the characters would just spit it out. I guess I never understood what was wrong with being a cyborg in the first place, or why the doctor didn’t just tell Cinder what was going on. Instead of moving forwards, the story tending to circle round the same bits of tension. I felt like the book could have dove deeper, fleshed out the lunar world or even just the cyborg society just that little bit more.
All in all, it’s got that readable quality.
Source: Bought it.
I was drawn to this cover from the moment that I saw it but I have seen such mixed reviews. Your review was wonderful, pointing out the positive and negative.
ReplyDeleteEveryone I know who has read this has raved about it
ReplyDeleteI've seen lots of reviews for this book and I am intrigued so hopefully one day in the future I might get around to reading it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I really enjoyed Cinder and the series.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I absolutely love The Lunar Chronicles it is one of my top favorite book series ever. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this book but I don't know if it would be for me.
ReplyDelete