Do you like fairytales? Do you like science fiction? Do you like strong female characters? If yes, then Cinder, book one of the Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyer is for you! Cinder is a talented mechanic, but she is looked down upon because she is a cyborg. Hated by her stepmother and blamed for her sister’s sickness, Cinder pushes on. Then, she runs into Prince Kai, finding herself amidst a struggle that knows no borders, not even space. Cinder must uncover the secrets of her past to protect any chance she might have at a future.
My favorite part of this book was the characters, specifically the protagonists. Cinder, Prince Kai, and Iko, the android sidekick, were very well characterized. Cinder is an intelligent, fair, rational character who is generally helpful and warm-hearted, unless you’re on her bad side. She is capable of making plans and following through, even when they involve tough decisions. Cinder knows the values of all lives, and does her best to help people, especially her loved ones. Cinder also has a soft spot for the people she likes, such as Peony, her stepsister, Iko, her android friend, and Prince Kai. Speaking of the prince, he is not an empty character. Certain chapters tell Kai’s story, and he has many character traits usually not shown in typical fairytale princes. The toll taken on him by his responsibilities is shown, but he tries to rule responsibly. He is confident, self-assured, and has positive intentions. Lastly, Iko is a sassy android that Cinder restored. She knows what to say to cheer Cinder up, and always gives the best advice. One thing I didn’t like about Cinder was the world-building. The story was set in New Beijing, but I would have liked more Asian influences on the setting. I understand that the story was set in the future with technology generally being the same for all of the continents, but given the way that the beginning of the story played up how the setting was New Beijing, I was a bit disappointed. Other than the characters’ and location names and physical appearances as given by the author on her webpage, there was little Asian influence. Overall, I would give Cinder 4/5 stars, and hereby declare it as a must-read because of its empowering message and amazing characters.
2 Comments
Anonymous
8/8/2016 05:40:02 pm
Great review! I agree with everything that you said. Great blog :-)
Reply
The Baroness
8/9/2016 12:19:04 am
Thank you so much!
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
Categories
All
Archives
June 2023
|